Method and system for sensing

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for sensing target molecules such as redox reactive agents, comprising a sample compartment and a sensing compartment being in fluid communication, are disclosed. A sensing compartment which comprises nanostructures to which a functional moiety is covalently attached and which is such that upon contacting a redox reactive agent a change in electrical property of the nanostructure occurs, and integration of such a sensing compartment with sensing systems as described herein are also disclosed. Methods of monitoring a metabolic activity of cells, and uses thereof, are also disclosed.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to sensingand, more particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and methodswhich can be utilized, for example, for real-time simultaneous detectionof a variety of samples and/or for real-time detection of redox-reactivemoieties such as, for example, oxidizing moieties produced bymetabolites. The systems and methods described herein can be utilized,for example, for monitoring and/or analyzing metabolic activity ofcells, and hence in various diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications.

Metabolism is defined as the totality of biochemical processes in livingorganisms that either produce or consume energy. Metabolic processesregulate cells to grow or die, reform their structures, and respond totheir environments. Abnormal metabolic reactions disturb normalphysiology and lead to severe tissue dysfunction, and are linked to manydiseases.

Cancer is an example of a common human disease with metabolicperturbations. Altered cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer,contributing to malignant transformation and to the initiation, growth,and maintenance of tumors. Thus, for example, studies have shown thataltered glucose metabolism promotes cancer development, and that cancercells consume much more glucose and secrete much more lactate thannormal tissue.

Understanding the complex networks associated with cancer metabolism formonitoring thereof have therefore been recognized as desirable fordistinguishing metabolic significances of cancers, estimating theeffectiveness of therapies, and facilitating personalized treatments.See, for example, Munoz-Pinedo et al. Cell Death Dis 2012, 3: e248; andGriffin and Shockcor, Nature reviews Cancer 2004, 4(7): 551-561.

Several methodologies have been used heretofore for monitoring metabolicactivities of cells. The most prevalent are mass spectrometry (MS)techniques linked with a separation method such as gas (GC) or liquid(LC) chromatography. In MS, species are ionized and separated based ontheir mass-to-charge ratio. MS is sensitive within physiologicalconcentration ranges of metabolites, but results are obtained inendpoint fashion, ceasing metabolic activity of samples to collect data,rather than in real-time. In addition, this methodology requires samplepreprocessing, rendering it incompatible with direct testing ofbiosamples such as blood or serum. Alternative separation methods for MSinclude electrospray ionization (ESI), which improves preprocessing, andnanostructure-initiator MS (NI-MS), which allows direct detection ofphysiological solutions. See, for example, Shulaev V. Metabolomicstechnology and bioinformatics. Brief Bioinform 2006, 7(2):128-139; andNorthen et al. Nature 2007, 449(7165): 1033-U1033.

For real-time sensing with multiplex profiling in physiological samples,methodologies combining electrochemical and fluorescent sensingtechniques have been sought for. Enzyme-reactive electrochemical sensorscombining H₂O₂-detecting electrodes with enzyme-modified membranes toconvert metabolites to H₂O₂ for real-time sensing have been developed[Pörtner R. Animal cell biotechnology: methods and protocols, 2nd edn.Humana Press: Totowa, N. J., 2007]. A fluorescent sensor with embeddedfluorophores for detecting O₂ consumption and pH change of biosamples inreal time has also been developed [Marx V. Nature 2013, 494(7435), p.131].

WO 2012/137207 describes a method of measuring a metabolic activity of acell, effected by independently measuring in an extracellularenvironment of the cell, time-dependent acidification profiles due tosecretion of non-volatile soluble metabolic products; non-volatilesoluble metabolic products and volatile soluble metabolic products; andvolatile soluble metabolic products, and uses of such a method fordiagnosing and monitoring disease treatment.

Recent developments in microfluidic technology and nanotechnology havealso been exploited for supersensitive real-time detection ofmicro-volume metabolites. Microfluidic devices which separatemicrolevels of metabolites in solution using electrophoresis[Garcia-Perez et al., Journal of Chromatography A 2008, 1204(2):130-139; Garcia and Henry Anal Chim Acta 2004, 508(1): Wang et al. AnalChim Acta 2007, 585(1): 11-16; et al. Analyst 2009, 134(3): 486-492; andVlckova and Schwarz J Chromatogr A 2007, 1142(2): 214-221] or liquidchromatography [Wang L et al. J Microelectromech S 2008, 17(2): 318-327;Lin et al. Anal Chem 2008, 80(21): 8045-8054], have been described.Currently used microfluidic chips, however, require coupling to otherdetection techniques and thus require preprocessing [Kraly et al. AnalChim Acta 2009, 653(1): 23-35].

Electrochemical, photochemical, and antibody/enzyme-functionalizednanowire sensors have also been described for detecting targetmetabolites. See, for example, Ramgir et al. Small 2010, 6(16):1705-1722; and Peretz-Soroka et al. Nano Lett 2013, 13(7): 3157-3168.

Antibody/enzyme nanowire FET devices which target metabolites viabinding affinity have been disclosed in, for example, Lu et al.Bioelectrochemistry 2007, 71(2): 211-216; Patolsky et al. Nanowire-basedbiosensors. Anal Chem 2006, 78(13): 4260-4269; and Yang et al.Nanotechnology 2006, 17(11): S276-S279.

Electrochemically-sensitive nanowire sensors for detecting metabolitesby oxidative reactions have been disclosed in, for example, Lu et al.Biosens Bioelectron 2009, 25(1): 218-223; Krivitsky et al. Nano letters2012, 12(9): 4748-4756; Shao et al. Adv Funct Mater 2005, 15(9):1478-1482; Su et al. Part Part Syst Char 2013, 30(4): 326-331; and Tyagiet al. Anal Chem 2009, 81(24): 9979-9984.

Semiconducting nanowires are known to be extremely sensitive to chemicalspecies adsorbed on their surfaces. For a nanowire device, the bindingof a charged analyte to the surface of the nanowire leads to aconductance change, or a change in current flowing through the wires.The 1D (one dimensional) nanoscale morphology and the extremely highsurface-to-volume ratio make this conductance change to be much greaterfor nanowire-based sensors versus planar FETs (field-effecttransistors), increasing the sensitivity to a point that single moleculedetection is possible.

Nanowire-based field-effect transistors (NW-FETs) have therefore beenrecognized in the past decade as powerful potential new sensors for thedetection of chemical and biological species. See, for example, Patolskyet al., Analytical Chemistry 78, 4260-4269 (2006); Stern et al., IEEETransactions on Electron Devices 55, 3119-3130 (2008); Cui et al.,Science 293, 1289-1292 (2001); Patolsky et al. Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101,14017-14022 (2004), all being incorporated by reference as if fully setforth herein.

Studies have also been conducted with nanowire electrical devices forthe simultaneous multiplexed detection of multiple biomolecular speciesof medical diagnostic relevance, such as DNA and proteins [Zheng et al.,Nature Biotechnology 23, 1294-1301 (2005); Timko et al., Nano Lett. 9,914-918 (2009); Li et al., Nano Lett. 4, 245-247 (2004)].

Generally, in a NW-FET configuration, the gate potential controls thechannel conductance for a given source drain voltage (VSD), andmodulation of the gate voltage (VGD) changes the measured source-draincurrent (ISD). For NW sensors operated as FETs, the sensing mechanism isthe field-gating effect of charged molecules on the carrier conductioninside the NW. Compared to devices made of micro-sized materials or bulkmaterials, the enhanced sensitivity of nanodevices is closely related tothe reduced dimensions and larger surface/volume ratio. Since most ofthe biological analyte molecules have intrinsic charges, binding on thenanowire surface can serve as a molecular gate on the semiconductingSiNW [Cui et al., 2001, supra].

U.S. Pat. No. 7,619,290, U.S. Patent Application having publication No.2010/0022012, and corresponding applications, teach nanoscale devicescomposed of, inter alia, functionalized nanowires, which can be used assensors.

Clavaguera et al. disclosed a method for sub-ppm detection of nerveagents using chemically functionalized silicon nanoribbon field-effecttransistors [Clavaguera et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 1-5].

SiO₂ surface chemistries were used to construct a ‘nano-electronic nose’library, which can distinguish acetone and hexane vapors via distributedresponses [Nature Materials Vol. 6, 2007, pp. 379-384].

U.S. Patent Application having Publication No. 2010/0325073 disclosesnanodevices designed for absorbing gaseous NO. WO 2011/000443 describesnanodevices which utilize functionalized nanowires for detectingnitro-containing compounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sensing methodology that integrates multiplexing and real-timecapabilities, direct detection of biosamples, and minimum samplerequirements, is highly required. Such a system can be utilized, forexample, for monitoring and analyzing metabolic activity of cells. Sucha methodology should allow detection without altering metaboliteproduction, or perturbing extracellular concentrations of associatedspecies.

The present inventors have devised and successfully prepared andpracticed an integrated microfluidic nanostructure sensing system,comprised of one or more sensing compartments featuring a functionalized(e.g., redox-reactive) nanostructure FET array which is in fluidcommunication with one or more sample chambers. This system has beenshown to perform multiplex real-time monitoring of cellular metabolicactivity in physiological solutions, and was demonstrated as anefficient tool in promoting the understanding of metabolic networks andrequirements of cancers for personalized medicine.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system comprising at least one chamber being incontrollable fluid communication with a sensing compartment, the atleast one chamber being configured to contain a fluid and the sensingcompartment comprising a semiconductor nanostructure and a functionalmoiety covalently attached to the nanostructure, the functional moietybeing such that upon contacting a redox reactive agent, thenanostructure exhibits a detectable change in an electrical property.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the functional moiety is a redox reactive moiety.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the functional moiety comprises at least one functional group capable ofreversible change in an oxidation number of at least one of its atoms.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the functional moiety comprises a quinone.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the functional moiety comprises an aromatic quinone.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the functional moiety or comprises a functional group elected from thegroup consisting of quinone, benzoquinone, anhraquinone, andphenanthrenequinone, each being substituted or unsubstituted.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the electrical property comprises electron density on a surface of thenanostructure.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the nanostructure is a nanowire.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the semiconductor nanostructure comprises silicon.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises a detector constructed and arranged todetermine the change in electrical property.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the semiconductor nanostructure is a transistor.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system comprises a plurality of the nanostructures.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the nanostructures are substantially identical.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the nanostructures are included in the same sensing compartment and arein fluid communication thereamongst at all times.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises a substrate onto and/or into which thenanostructure is, or the plurality of nanostructures are, deposited.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system comprises at least two chambers, each being configured tocontain a fluid and being in fluid communication with the sensingcompartment.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the at least two chambers are in fluid communication therebetween.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises a valve configured to control a fluidcommunication between each of the chambers and the sensing compartmentand/or between the chambers.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the fluid communication is effected by means of microchannels.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises at least one valve for respectivelyallowing or preventing flow from the at least one chamber to the sensingcompartment.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises a controller, for selectively operating theat least one valve to control flow of fluids from the at least onechamber to the sensing compartment.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises an additional sensing device.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the additional sensing device comprises an optical sensing device.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the system further comprises an additional chamber being devoid of thesemiconductor nanostructure and also in fluid communication with the atleast one chamber, wherein the additional sensing device is configuredto receive signals from the additional chamber.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method of determining a presence and/or amount of aredox reactive agent in at least one fluid sample, the method comprisingintroducing the at least one sample to the sensing system according toany one of the embodiments described herein, wherein the detectablechange in the electrical property is indicative of the presence and/oramount of the redox reactive agent in each of the at least one sample.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method of determining a presence and/or amount of asubstance producing a redox reactive agent in at least one fluid sample,the method comprising introducing the at least one sample to the sensingsystem according to any one of the embodiments described herein, whereinthe detectable change in the electrical property is indicative of thepresence and/or amount of the substance in each of the at least onesample.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the method further comprises subjecting at least one fluid sample to areaction condition under which the substance produces the redox reactiveagent.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the subjecting comprises fluidly communicating the chamber with achamber which provides the condition.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the subjecting comprises fluidly communicating a chamber which providesthe condition with the sensing compartment.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the condition comprises an enzymatic reaction that catalyzes aproduction of the oxidizing agent or the reducing agent by thesubstance.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the chamber which provides the condition forms a part of the sensingsystem.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention, atleast one fluid sample comprises a cell, the method being fordetermining a presence and/or an amount of the substance producing theoxidizing agent or the reducing agent in the cell.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the substance is a metabolite.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention, atleast one fluid sample comprises a cell, the method being fordetermining or monitoring metabolic activity of the cell.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention, atleast one fluid sample which comprises the cell further comprises atherapeutic agent, the method being for determining or monitoringactivity of the cell upon contacting the therapeutic agent.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the method is being for determining an efficacy of the therapeutic agenttowards the cell.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the substance is a metabolite, the method being for identifying an agentcapable of altering a metabolic activity of the cell.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the fluid sample is a biological sample of a subject.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the method is being for diagnosing a disease associated with a modifiedmetabolic activity in a subject.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the method is being for monitoring a treatment of a disease associatedwith a modified metabolic activity in a subject.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the oxidizing agent is a reactive oxygen species or an agent producing areactive oxygen species.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the oxidizing agent is a peroxide.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a sensing system, comprising:

a sensing compartment configured for detecting a target molecule;

a plurality of chambers, each being in controllable fluid communicationwith the same sensing compartment via a respective microchannel and arespective valve mounted thereon; and

a controller, for selectively operating each valve to control flow offluids from at least two of the chambers to the sensing compartment.

According to some of any of the embodiments of the present invention,the sending compartment comprises a semiconductor nanostructureconfigured such that upon contacting a target molecule, thenanostructure exhibits a detectable change in an electrical propertythereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplarymethods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, thepatent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are notintended to be necessarily limiting.

Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of theinvention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually,automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actualinstrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or systemof the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented byhardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof usingan operating system.

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according toembodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or acircuit. As software, selected tasks according to embodiments of theinvention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructionsbeing executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more tasks according toexemplary embodiments of method and/or system as described herein areperformed by a data processor, such as a computing platform forexecuting a plurality of instructions. Optionally, the data processorincludes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or anon-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removablemedia, for storing instructions and/or data. Optionally, a networkconnection is provided as well. A display and/or a user input devicesuch as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A-D present images (FIGS. 1A-B) and schematic illustrations(FIGS. 1C-D) of an exemplary biosensing system according to someembodiments of the present invention. The biosensing system includes aculture compartment, in which different samples can be easily switchedfor multiplex sensing, and a NW-FET sensing compartment (FIGS. 1A-B). Inthe sensing compartment, a SiNW FET array is modified with9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride as an exemplary redox-reactive group(FIG. 1C). ROS or consequent H₂O₂ produced by enzymatic oxidation ofmetabolites oxidizes 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene on a FET surface to form9,10-anthraquinone, thereby decreasing surface electron density, whereasa reductant, N,N-diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA), reduces 9,10-anthraquinoneto 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene, thereby increasing surface electron density(FIG. 1D). (LOX: lactate oxidase; GOX: glucose oxidase; PDX: pyruvateoxidase; Pi: inorganic phosphate).

FIGS. 2A-D present the data obtained in XPS measurements during surfacemodification and characterization of redox-reactive SiNW FETs.Modification procedures: conversion of the sulfonate group of sodium9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate to sulfochloride (inset); silanization ofthe SiNW surface with amine groups (FIG. 2B); and formation of thesulfonamide that connects 9,10-anthraquinone group to the modifiedsurface (FIG. 2C). XPS spectra and atomic compositions of the modifiedsurface for carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) of a non-modifiedSiNW FET (FIG. 2A) and upon each modification step are presented. FIG.2D presents XPS representative survey spectra of the oxidized9,10-anthraquinone-modified silicon nanowire surface (blue curve) andreduced 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified silicon nanowire surface (redcurve). Percentage of C═O bonds was calculated from C1s curve fitting.

FIGS. 3A-B present the sensing characteristics of a9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified SiNW FET in response to H₂O₂ inserum-added medium. FIG. 3A presents oxidation kinetics of the9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified FET in different concentrations ofH₂O₂, and reduction of the FET surface by flowing a reductant solution,compared to signals acquired from an APDMES-modified FET. (ΔI_(ds): thedifference between a measured current and a baseline; I₀: normalizingfactor; V_(g)=0 V; V_(ds)=0.2 V; sensing was performed at pH 7.4 inserum-added culture medium). Comparisons of surface chemical bondpopulations for relevant functional groups at oxidation and reductionare presented in insets. FIG. 3B presents sensing responses of a9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified SiNW FET modeled as a function of H₂O₂concentration and pH (data were means±standard deviations (SD), n≧4replications).

FIGS. 4A-C present the sensing characteristics of a9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified SiNW FET in response to thesmall-molecule metabolites lactate (FIG. 4A) and glucose (FIG. 4B) bymeans of oxidases in serum-added culture medium, and to thesmall-molecule metabolite pyruvate in PBS (FIG. 4C). Insets present thecorresponding standard curve. (LOX: lactate oxidase; GOX: glucoseoxidase, PDX: pyruvate oxidase; Vg=0 V, Vds=0.2 V).

FIGS. 5A-C present sensing of pH in a reductant-supplemented mediumusing a 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified NW FET. FIG. 5A presents aschematic illustration of the conversion of the modified FET into a pHsensor by adding a reductant, depicting changes in surface protondensity in response to protonation or by deprotonation, which change themeasured current. FIG. 2B presents pH-dependent sensing response inreductant-added medium without H₂O₂ content (Vg=−0.3 V; Vds=0.2 V). FIG.5C demonstrates the sensor's insensibility to H₂O₂ in a reductant-addedmedium. Base levels obtained by flowing a reductant (Vg=0 V(reductant-free), −0.3 V (reductant-added); Vds=0.2 V). Signals wereobtained after 700 seconds of injection; sensing was done at pH 8.00 inserum-added culture medium.

FIGS. 6A-I present data obtained while monitoring of cellular metabolicactivity using a 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified NW FET). Measuredlevels of metabolites were normalized by the number of live cells. FIGS.6A and 6D present data obtained during 24-hour monitoring of MTX-treatedand 2DG-treated Jurkat cells, respectively. FIGS. 6B and 6B show thecorrelations between ROS levels and resultant cell proliferation ratesafter 24 hours in MTX-treated and 2DG-treated Jurkat cells. Relativecell count is a ratio of the cell count at t=24 hour to the initial cellcount. FIG. 6F show the correlation between lactate levels of2DG-treated Jurkat cells and resultant cell proliferation rates after 24hours. Data of control experiments, in all insets of FIGS. 6A, B, D andE, were obtained by using dichlorodihydrofluorescein. FIGS. 6C and 6Gshow the pH of MTX-treated and 2DG-treated Jurkat cells, respectively.The measured metabolic levels of CLL cells were normalized by those ofnormal B cells. Data were means±standard error of the mean (SEM), n≧3replications; n=6 devices; Student's t-tests were employed; * denotesP<0.05, ** denotes P<0.01). FIGS. 6H-6I present data obtained in 24-hourviability observation of (MTX-treated and 2DG-treated Jurkat cells,respectively.

FIGS. 7A-B present metabolic levels of chronic lymphocytic leukemic(CLL) cells and normal B cells (FIG. 7A) and viability thereof (FIG.7B). Data were means±standard deviations (SD), n=6 devices; Student'st-tests were employed; * denotes P<0.05, ** denotes P<0.01); Dataobtained for a 24-hour viability observation of primary human B cells(CLL: chronic lymphoid leukemic cells; Normal: normal B cells).

FIG. 8 present schematic representation of an exemplary multiplexreal-time monitoring of metabolites using an all-inclusive lab-on-a-chipon an incubator-equipped microscope. The lab-on-a-chip isolates targetcells from multi-cellular samples, and the isolated target cells aredispensed to midstream cell culture wells. Metabolites are then reactedto produce ROS, and solutions are transported to downstream sensingwells (LOX: lactate oxidase; GOX: glucose oxidase; PDX: pyruvateoxidase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; Pi: inorganic phosphate).

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic illustrations of a sensing systemaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a nanostructure in embodiment ofthe invention in which the nanostructure forms a transistor.

FIGS. 11A-C are schematic illustrations of a system which comprises twoor more sensing compartments, according to some embodiments of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to sensingand, more particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and methodswhich can be utilized, for example, for real-time simultaneous detectionof a variety of samples and/or for real-time detection of redox-reactivemoieties such as, for example, oxidizing moieties produced bymetabolites. The systems and methods described herein can be utilized,for example, for monitoring and/or analyzing metabolic activity ofcells, and hence in various diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention iscapable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out invarious ways.

The present inventors have devised and successfully prepared andpracticed an integrated microfluidic nanowire sensing system, comprisedof one or more sensing compartments featuring a functionalized (e.g.,redox-reactive) nanowire FET array which is in fluid communication withone or more chambers, and have successfully utilized this system formultiplex real-time monitoring of cellular metabolic activity inphysiological solutions.

The present inventors have shown that using such a system, real-timemultiplex monitoring of various samples can be performed, withoutpre-processing the sample and without interfering with its essentialfeatures and/or using hazardous agents.

Such a system can be used for various diagnosis and therapeuticapplications, for example, in diagnosing a disease associate withmetabolic activity, in a following selection of suitable (e.g.,personalized) therapy, in monitoring the efficacy of a diseasetreatment, and in screening methods for therapeutic agents for alteringmetabolic activity of cells.

The multiplex real-time monitoring by the systems as described hereincircumvents the need of pre-processing a sample before analyzing, andfurther, in case additional one or more reagents should be used togenerate a moiety to be sensed, allows for direct mixing these reagentswith the tested sample within the system. Such direct mixing allowsusing small amounts (e.g., microvolumes) of such reagents and mildconditions and procedures for generating the moiety to be sensed, yetresults in maximizing the moiety to be sensed, improved sensingreliability and prolonged lifetime of the sensing system.

In addition, a sensing system as described herein substantially reducesthe time required for sensing a sample using other techniques, and canbe designed so as to be non-specific for a certain target moiety, suchthat multiplex sensing can be effected simultaneously for varioussamples. Sensing can be performed without interfering with cellularand/or metabolic processes of a biosample prior to its introduction tothe system.

The Sensing System:

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a system comprising at least one chamber being incontrollable fluid communication with a sensing compartment.

By “controllable fluid communication” it is meant a fluid path throughwhich a flow of fluid can be allowed or prevented by means of a flowcontrolling means, such as, but not limited to, a valve. In someembodiments of the present invention controllable fluid communicationencompasses a fluid path through which the flow rate of fluid can bevaried.

The term “compartment” as used herein throughout should be understood asdescribing an open or closed enclosure within a system. The compartmentcan have at least a base and side walls. The compartment can otherwisebe a portion of a system, separable from other portions of the system byits position.

In some embodiments, fluid communication is effected by means ofmicrochannels. Such a sensing system is also referred to herein asmicrofluidic sensing system.

The Sensing Compartment:

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of asensing according to some embodiments of the present invention.

System 10 can comprise a sensing compartment 12 having one or moresemiconductor nanostructure 14. Nanostructure 14 is preferablyelongated. When a plurality (i.e., two or more) of nanostructures 14 isemployed, the nanostructures 14 are optionally and preferably arrangedin an array. For example, the nanostructures can be arranged generallyparallel to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

As used herein, a “elongated nanostructure” generally refers to athree-dimensional body which is made of a solid substance, and which, atany point along its length, has at least one cross-sectional dimensionand, in some embodiments, two orthogonal cross-sectional dimensions lessthan 1 micron, or less than 500 nanometers, or less than 200 nanometers,or less than 150 nanometers, or less than 100 nanometers, or even lessthan 70, less than 50 nanometers, less than 20 nanometers, less than 10nanometers, or less than 5 nanometers. In some embodiments, thecross-sectional dimension can be less than 2 nanometers or 1 nanometer.

In some embodiments, the nanostructure has at least one cross-sectionaldimension ranging from 0.5 nanometers to 200 nanometers, or from 1 nm to100 nm, or from 1 nm to 50 nm.

The length of a nanostructure expresses its elongation extent generallyperpendicularly to its cross-section. According to some embodiments ofthe present invention the length of the nanostructure ranges from 10 nmto 50 microns.

The cross-section of the elongated semiconductor may have any arbitraryshape, including, but not limited to, circular, square, rectangular,elliptical and tubular. Regular and irregular shapes are included.

In various exemplary embodiments of the invention the nanostructure is anon-hollow structure, referred to herein as “nanowire”.

A “wire” refers to any material having conductivity, namely having anability to pass charge through itself.

In some embodiments, a nanowire has an average diameter that ranges from0.5 nanometers to 200 nanometers, or from 1 nm to 100 nm, or from 1 nmto 50 nm.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the nanostructure isshaped as hollow tubes, preferably entirely hollow along theirlongitudinal axis, referred to herein as “nanotube” or as “nanotubularstructure”.

The nanotubes can be single-walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes ora combination thereof.

In some embodiments, an average inner diameter of a nanotube ranges from0.5 nanometers to 200 nanometers, or from 1 nm to 100 nm, or from 1 nmto 50 nm.

In case of multi-walled nanotubes, in some embodiments, an interwalldistance can range from 0.5 nanometers to 200 nanometers, or from 1 nmto 100 nm, or from 1 nm to 50 nm.

Selection of suitable semiconductor materials for forming ananostructure as described herein will be apparent and readilyreproducible by those of ordinary skill in the art, in view of theguidelines provided herein for beneficially practicing embodiments ofthe invention. For example, the nanostructure of the present embodimentscan be made of an elemental semiconductor of Group IV, and variouscombinations of two or more elements from any of Groups II, III, IV, Vand VI of the periodic table of the elements.

As used herein, the term “Group” is given its usual definition asunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, Group IIIelements include B, Al, Ga, In and Tl; Group IV elements include C, Si,Ge, Sn and Pb; Group V elements include N, P, As, Sb and Bi; and GroupVI elements include O, S, Se, Te and Po.

In some embodiments of the present invention the nanostructure is madeof a semiconductor material that is doped with donor atoms, known as“dopant”. The present embodiments contemplate doping to effect bothn-type (an excess of electrons than what completes a lattice structurelattice structure) and p-type (a deficit of electrons than whatcompletes a lattice structure) doping. The extra electrons in the n-typematerial or the holes (deficit of electrons) left in the p-type materialserve as negative and positive charge carriers, respectively. Donoratoms suitable as p-type dopants and as n-type dopants are known in theart.

For example, the nanostructure can be made from silicon doped with,e.g., B (typically, but not necessarily Diborane), Ga or Al, to providea p-type semiconductor nanostructure, or with P (typically, but notnecessarily Phosphine), As or Sb or to provide an n-type semiconductornanostructure.

In experiments performed by the present inventors, Si nanowires andp-type Si nanowires with a Diborane dopant have been utilized.

In some embodiments, the sensing compartment comprises a plurality ofnanowires and/or nanotubes, grown on a substrate by using, for example,chemical vapor deposition. Optionally, once the nanowires and/ornanotubes are obtained, the substrate is etched (e.g., byphotolithography) and the nanowires and/or nanotubes are arranged withinthe sensing compartment as desired. Alternatively, nanowires can be madeusing laser assisted catalytic growth (LCG). Any method for forming asemiconductor nanostructure and of constructing an array of a pluralityof nanostructures as described herein is contemplated.

In some embodiments, the sensing compartment comprises a plurality ofnanostructures, e.g., from 2 to 2000 nanostructures per 1 squarecentimeter. The nanostructures can comprise nanowires, as describedherein, nanotubes, as described herein, and combination thereof.

Exemplary nanotubes and methods of preparing same are disclosed in WO2010/052704, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein.

Any other semiconductor nanostructures, as described in further detailhereinbelow, are also contemplated.

Sensing compartment 12 optionally and preferably comprises a functionalmoiety 16 covalently attached to nanostructure 14. Functional moiety 16is selected such that upon contacting with a detectable, target species(e.g., moiety or compound) 18 nanostructure 14 exhibits a detectablechange in an electrical property of nanostructure 14.

For example, nanostructure 14 can exhibit a change in density ofelectrons or holes over some region of nanostructure 14 or over theentire length of nanostructure 14. Nanostructure 14 can additionally oralternatively exhibit a change in its conductivity or resistivity.

When a plurality of nanostructures 14 is employed, all thenanostructures can be covalently attached to the same functional moiety,or, alternatively, at least two nanostructures are covalently attachedto different functional moieties. Use of two or more functional moietieson respective two or more nanostructures is advantageous since it allowscompartment 12 to sense more than one type of target molecule,sequentially or simultaneously. Functional moieties suitable for some ofthe present embodiments are provided hereinbelow.

In some of any of the embodiments of sensing compartment 12 as describedherein, when a plurality of nanostructures 14 is employed, thenanostructures are included in the same sensing compartment and are influid communication thereamongst at all times.

In some of any of the embodiments of sensing system 10 as describedherein, a plurality of nanostructures 14 is employed, and thenanostructures are included in two or more sensing compartments and, ineach sensing compartment the plurality of nanostructures are in fluidcommunication thereamongst at all times. Embodiments in which system 10comprises more than one sensing compartment are described below.

The change in the property of nanostructure 14 can be detected by adetector 32 which communicates with nanostructure 14 via a communicationline 34. When a plurality of nanostructures is employed, each of thenanostructures preferably communicates with detector 32 over a separatecommunication channel.

Detector 32 can be of any type that allows detection of semiconductorproperty.

For example, detector 32 can be constructed for measuring an electricalmeasure corresponding to a change in the electrical property. Theelectrical measure can be, e.g., voltage, current, conductivity,resistance, impedance, inductance, charge, etc.

The detector typically includes a power source and a voltmeter oramperemeter. In one embodiment, a conductance less than 1 nS can bedetected. In some embodiments, a conductance in the range of thousandsof nS can be detected.

For example, when detectable species 18 effect a change in electron orhole density of nanostructure 14, detector 32 can be configured to applyvoltage nanostructure 14 and to measure the current throughnanostructure 14. In some embodiments of the present inventionnanostructure 14 is in contact with a source electrode and a drainelectrode (not shown, see FIG. 10). In these embodiments, detector 32 isoptionally and preferably configured to apply a source-drain voltagebetween the source electrode and the drain electrode and to measurechanges in the source-drain current. In some embodiments of the presentinvention nanostructure 14 is in contact with a source electrode, adrain electrode and a gate electrode, such that nanostructure 14 forms atransistor, such as, but not limited to, a field effect transistor(FET). In these embodiments, detector 32 is optionally and preferablyconfigured to apply a source-drain voltage between the source electrodeand the drain electrode and optionally also a gate voltage to the gateelectrode, and to measure changes in the source-drain current.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of nanostructure 14 in embodiment inwhich nanostructure 14 forms a transistor 150 (e.g., FET). Transistor 50comprises a source electrode 152, a drain electrode 154, a gateelectrode 156 wherein nanostructure 14 serves as a channel A gatevoltage can be applied to channel nanostructure 14 through gateelectrode 156. In some embodiments, when the voltage of gate electrode156 is zero, nanostructure 14 does not contain any free charge carriersand is essentially an insulator. As the gate voltage is increased, theelectric field caused thereby attracts electrons (or more generally,charge carriers) from source electrode 152 and drain electrode 154, andnanostructure 14 becomes conducting. In some embodiments, no gatevoltage is applied and the change in the charge carrier density iseffected solely by virtue of the interaction between nanostructure 14and target molecule 18.

It is appreciated that when the electrical property of the nanostructurevaries in response to interaction with a sample that contains thenitro-containing compound, a detectable signal can be produced. Forexample, a change in the electrical property of the channel induces achange in the characteristic response of the transistor to the gatevoltage (e.g., the source-drain current as a function of the gatevoltage), which change can be detected and analyzed.

Nanostructures 14 can be deposited onto, or be partially or fullysubmerged in a substrate 28.

The substrate can be, for example, an elastomeric polymer substrate.Suitable elastomeric polymer substrate materials are generally selectedbased upon their compatibility with the manufacturing process (softlithography, stereo lithography and three-dimensional jet printing,etc.) and the conditions present in the particular operation to beperformed by the microfluidic system. Such conditions can includeextremes of pH, pressure within the microchannels, temperature, ionicconcentration, and the like. Additionally, elastomeric polymer substratematerials are also selected for their inertness to critical componentsof an analysis or synthesis to be carried out by the system. Elastomericpolymer substrate materials can also be coated with suitable materials,as discussed in detail below.

In some embodiments, the elastomeric polymer substrate material ispreferably transparent. These embodiments are particularly useful whensystem 10 is used with, or includes, an optical or visual detectiondevice. Alternatively, transparent windows of, e.g., glass or quartz,may be incorporated into the system for this type of detection. Theelastomeric polymer can have linear or branched backbones, and can becross linked or non-cross linked.

Given the tremendous diversity of polymer chemistries, precursors,synthetic methods, reaction conditions, and potential additives, thereis a large number of possible elastomeric systems that are contemplatedfor fabricating the microfluidic system of the present embodiments.

Representative examples of elastomeric polymers include, withoutlimitation, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyisoprene, polybutadiene,polychloroprene, polyisobutylene, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene),polyurethanes and silicones. Since the stroke of the piezoelectricactuator is small (nanometer range), the present Inventors alsocontemplate the use of polymers which are generally non-elastomeric,provided that the wall of the formed microchannel is sufficientlyelastic, as further detailed hereinabove. Representative examples ofsuch polymers include, without limitation, PMMA and polycarbonate.

The Sample Compartment:

System 10 can also comprise one or more chambers 20 in controllablefluid communication with sensing compartment 12, via a channel 22 and avalve 24 mounted thereon. When a plurality of chambers is employed, eachchamber is optionally in controllable fluid communication with the samesensing compartment 12 via a respective channel 22 and a respectivevalve 24 mounted thereon. In some embodiments of the present invention,two or more sensing compartments such as sensing compartment 12 areemployed, wherein at least two chambers are in controllable fluidcommunication with different sensing compartments. In some embodimentsof the present invention, there is no fluid communication betweensensing compartments that are fed by different chambers, and in someembodiments of the present invention there is fluid communicationbetween sensing compartment that are fed by different chambers.Representative examples of embodiments in which the system comprises twoor more sensing compartments are provided hereinafter.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein throughout for asample compartment, when two or more chambers are included, two or morechambers can be in fluid communication thereamongst (in addition tobeing in fluid communication with the sensing compartment).

The term “chamber” as used herein refers to a close or open enclosureconfigured to contain a fluid (e.g., a sample solution, a reagentsolution). Chamber 20 can be positioned above the surface of themicrochannels (e.g., substrate 28 as described herein) or within thesurface of the microchannels (e.g., substrate 28 as described herein).If a plurality of chambers is employed, each chamber can independentlyadopt any of the configurations described herein.

A chamber containing a sample solution is interchangeably referred toherein as a sample chamber, and chamber containing a reagent isinterchangeable referred to herein as a reagent chamber.

In some embodiments, each of chambers 20 described herein isindependently configured to contain an amount of fluid in a range offrom microliters to milliliters.

In some embodiments, the chamber is in a form of a well.

Channel 22 is preferably a microchannel.

The term “microchannel” as used herein refers to a fluid channel havingcross-sectional dimensions the largest of which being less than 1 mm,more preferably less than 500 μm, more preferably less than 400 μm, morepreferably less than 300 μm, more preferably less than 200 μm, e.g., 100μm or smaller.

Compartment 12, microchannels 22 and chamber 20 can all be formed in asubstrate, which can be the same substrate the supports nanostructures14 (substrate 28) or it can be a different substrate, as desired.

Typically, but not necessarily, microchannels 22 engage the same plane.For example, compartment 12, microchannels 22 and chamber 20 can all beformed in the substrate such that microchannels 22 engage the same planeover the substrate.

In some embodiments a main channel 26 is connected directly to chamber12 and each of microchannels 22 is deployed between the respectivechamber 20 and main channel 26, such that, for at least one of chambers20, the fluid path the chamber to compartment 12 includes both therespective microchannel 22 and the main channel 26. Optionally, but notnecessarily, main channel 26 is also a microchannel. In some embodimentsof the present invention main channel 26 has a diameter which is atleast 1 mm Main channel 26 may engage the same plane with microchannels22, but in some embodiments a portion of main channel 26 is above orbelow the plane engaged by microchannels 22.

In some embodiments of the present invention system 10 comprises anadditional chamber 21 which is in fluid communication with sensingcomportment 12 and also with two or more of chambers 20 such that thefluid path from chambers 20 to comportment 12 pass through additionalchamber 21. This embodiment is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9B.Additional chamber 21 can serve, for example, as a reaction or mixingchamber, to which an influx of substances from two or more differentchambers 20 can be established. The different substances can react ormix in additional chamber 21 and the mixture and/or reaction productscan flow into sensing compartment 12. Communication between additionalchamber 21 and sensing compartment 12 can be, for example, via channel26.

Chamber(s) 20 and channel(s) 22 form together a portion of the systemthat is also referred to herein interchangeably as “culture compartment”or “sample compartment”.

Microchannels 22 can be formed in substrate 28 by any technique known inthe art, including, without limitation, soft lithography, hot embossing,stereolithography, three-dimensional jet printing, dry etching andinjection molding.

In some embodiments of the present invention the sensing compartment,the microchannels and the chambers are formed on the same substrate, andin some embodiments of the present invention the sensing compartment isformed on a different substrate than the microchannels and the chambers.When different substrates are used, the different substrates can beconnected or be separated in a manner than maintains the controllablefluid communication between the chambers and the sensing compartment.For example, controllable fluid communication between the two separatesubstrates can ensured by embodying main channel 26 as a flexible tubeextending from the microchannels 22 to the sensing compartment 12. Whensensing compartment and the chambers are formed on the same substrate,they can be arranged in any geometrical relation over the substrate. Forexample, in some embodiments of the present invention the sensingcompartment is positioned at a region of the substrate which isseparated from all the chambers, and in some embodiments of the presentinvention the sensing compartment can be central while the chambers aredistributed to at least partially surround the sensing compartment.

System 10 preferably comprises a controller 30 configured forselectively operating each of valves 24 to control flow of fluids fromchamber(s) 20 to compartment 12. For clarity of presentation, only onecommunication line is shown in FIG. 9 between controller 30 and one ofvalves 24. It is to be understood however, that in at least someembodiments there is a separate communication line between controller 30and each of valves 24 so as to allow controller 30 to control each valveindividually, and optionally independently.

Controller 30 can include, or be associated with a data processor (notshown), which can be a general purpose computer or dedicated circuitry.Controller 30 preferably operates valves 24 automatically according to apredetermined sensing protocol which can be stored in the memory of thedata processor. For example, controller can open two valves to allow twofluids to flow into main channel 26, where the fluids can mix andoptionally react. Controller 30 can close the valves after predeterminedamounts of fluids have passed to channel 26. Alternatively, the valvescan remain in their open state to allow continuous sensing. From channel26 the mixture and optionally the products of the reaction can flow intocompartment 12. The mixture or reaction product includes at least targetmolecule 18. In compartment 12, target molecule 18 contactsnanostructures 14 and functional moiety 16, to effect a change in theproperty of nanostructure 14. The change in property can be detected bya detector 32.

Once the detection is completed, controller 30 can close the valves (ifthey remain open) to cease the feeding of target molecule 18 intocompartment 12. Thereafter, controller can open another valve to allowflow of washing fluid from one of the chambers 20. The washing fluid isoptionally and preferably selected to restore the property ofnanostructure 14 to the state or level prior to the contact withmolecule 18.

In some embodiments of the present invention compartment 12 comprises anoutlet port 36 from which fluids can exit compartment 12 (for example,following a washing operation). An outlet channel 38 can be connected toport 36 to facilitate the removal of fluids from compartment 12. Thefluids can flow through port 36 into channel 38 by virtue of anoverpressure generated in compartment 12 during the flow of fluids intocompartment 12 from channel 26. The fluids can alternatively oradditionally flow through port 36 into channel 38 by applying an underpressure (e.g., using a pump, not shown) in channel 38 as known in theart.

According to some embodiments of a sensing system, a sample compartmentas described herein is utilized in combination with one or more, sensingsystems, whereby one or more sensing systems are as described herein fora sensing system that comprises nanostructures, and/or one or moresensing systems is any other sensing system.

In any of the embodiments described herein, system 10 can comprise oneor more chambers having at least one transparent wall, base or coverthat allow optical inspection. Such chambers can be any of chambers 20or they can be dedicated chambers. Representative examples of chambersdedicated for optical inspection are illustrated in FIG. 8 and theordinarily skilled person, provided with the information describedherein, would know how to incorporate such dedicated chambers in otherembodiments (e.g., the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 9A, 9B, 11A,11B and 11C).

According an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, thereis provided a sensing system, comprising a sensing compartmentconfigured for detecting a target molecule, and a sample compartment asdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, the sample compartment comprises a plurality ofchambers, each being in controllable fluid communication with the samesensing compartment via a respective channel (e.g., microchannel) and arespective valve mounted thereon.

In some of these embodiments, the system further comprises a controller,for selectively operating each valve to control flow of fluids from thechambers to the sensing compartment.

Such a system allows performing multiplex monitoring by introducing aplurality of samples to the system, as described in further detailhereinbelow.

The microchannels, chambers, valve, substrate and any other features ofa sample compartment can be according to any one of the embodimentsdescribed herein for a sample compartment, and to any combinationthereof.

The sensing compartment can comprise any structure or plurality ofstructures which generate a detectable change upon contacting a targetmolecule, and can be designed accordingly, based on methods known in theart.

In some embodiments, the sensing compartment comprises a semiconductornanostructure configured such that upon contacting a target molecule,the nanostructure exhibits a detectable change in an electrical propertythereof, as described herein. The nanostructure can be functionalized,by generating or attaching to its surface a functional moiety or can benon-functionalized.

The sensing system of the present embodiments can be used in manyapplications, including without limitation, chemical applications,genetic applications, biochemical applications, pharmaceuticalapplications, biomedical applications, medical applications,radiological applications and environmental applications.

The sensing can thus be selected such that a detectable change occursonce the target molecule contacts the sensing compartment.

For medical applications, the sensing system of the present embodimentsis suitable for diagnostic and patient management, as is described andexemplified hereinafter. For environmental applications the sensingsystem of the present embodiments is suitable for detecting hazardousmaterials or conditions such as air or water pollutants, chemicalagents, biological organisms or radiological conditions. For genetic andbiochemical applications the sensing system of the present embodimentsis suitable for testing and/or analysis of DNA, and other macro orsmaller molecules, or reactions between such molecules in an approachknown as “lab-on-chip.”

The sensing system of the present embodiments can also be used in thearea of biochemical and biophysical investigations of single cells. Forexample, the sensing system can isolate a cell or a group of cells of acertain type.

The system and method of the present embodiments can be used for sensingpresence of target molecules in many types of fluid media and objectspresent in fluid media. The objects can comprise organic, inorganic,biological, polymeric or any other material. For example, the fluidmedium can comprise blood product, either whole blood or bloodcomponent, in which case the objects can be erythrocytes, leukocytes,platelets and the like. The fluid medium can also comprise other bodyfluids, including, without limitation, saliva, cerebral spinal fluid,urine and the like. Also contemplated are various buffers and solutions,such as, but not limited to, nucleic acid solutions, protein solutions,peptide solutions, antibody solutions and the like. Also contemplatedare various biological and chemical reagents such as, but not limitedto, oxidizing agents, reducing agents, enzymes, receptor ligands,extracellular components, metabolites, fatty acids, steroids, and thelike.

Objects in the fluid medium can comprise other materials, such as, butnot limited to, cells, bacteria, cell organelles, platelets,macromolecules, vesicles, microbeads, covered with antibodies specificto soluble factors such as ligands, shaded receptors and biologicalmaterials containing a fatty tissue or a microorganism. The objectswhich are manipulated by the system and method of the presentembodiments can also be made of or comprise synthetic (polymeric ornon-polymeric) material, such as latex, silicon polyamide and the like.The object can be optically visible or transparent. The objects can alsoemit light or be conjugated to other objects to facilitate theirdetection.

A Sensing System with Two or More Sensing Compartments:

FIGS. 11A-C are schematic illustrations of a system 200 which comprisestwo or more sensing compartments 12, according to some embodiments ofthe present invention. In some embodiments of the present invention thesensing compartments are formed on different regions of the samesubstrate, and in some embodiments of the present invention the sensingcompartments are formed on different substrates.

The structure and principles of the chambers, channels and sensingcompartments of system 200 are similar to those of the chambers,channels and sensing compartment of system 10. Features that areoptional in system 10 are also optional in system 200. For clarity ofpresentation, some reference numerals that appear in FIGS. 9A-B havebeen omitted from FIGS. 11A and 11B.

The advantage of having more than one sensing compartments is thatseveral sensing assays can be executed by the same system, eithersimultaneously or sequentially. In some exemplary embodiments of theinvention the nanostructures in each of the sensing compartments aredesigned to sense different types of target molecules, and in someexemplary embodiments of the present invention the nanostructures in twoor more of the sensing compartments are designed to sense the sametarget molecule but which may optionally be indicative of differentsubstances or activities and/or which is derived from different samples.

The signals from each compartment can be analyzed separately, forexample, to separately determine presence, absence or level of differenttarget molecules therein. The signals from two or more compartments(e.g., all the compartments) can be also analyzed collectively, suchthat the collection of signals from the respective sensing compartmentsdefines a signature of the target molecule or target molecules.

In the illustration of FIG. 11A, each sensing compartment 12 is fed froma plurality of chambers 20, as further detailed hereinabove with respectto system 10. Thus, for example, in these embodiments several systemssuch as system 10 can be formed on the same substrate to form system200.

In the illustration of FIG. 11B, fluid communication can be established(by controlling the respective valve 24) from at least one chambers totwo or more sensing compartments 12. These embodiments allow performingdifferent sensing assays to the same substance.

FIG. 11C illustrates a configuration in which each sensing compartments12 is fed by a different chamber 20. The chamber that feeds a respectivesensing compartment 12 can itself be fed by another chamber. Thechambers that directly feed sensing compartments 12 are designated 20′and the chambers that directly feed chambers 20′ are designated 20″.Chambers 20″ can hold for example, the sample to be analyzed andchambers 20′ can hold fluids selected to provide conditions under whichthe target molecule is generated or produced. For example, chambers 20′can contain a biological and/or a chemical reagent. When the respectivevalve is open, the sample flow from chamber 20″ to chamber 20′, so thatthe condition for producing the target molecule is met, and the targetmolecule flows to the respective sensing compartment 12.

A more specific example, which is not intended to be limiting, isillustrated in FIG. 8, which show schematic representation of anexemplary multiplex real-time monitoring of metabolites using anall-inclusive lab-on-a-chip on an incubator-equipped microscope. Thelab-on-a-chip isolates target cells from multi-cellular samples, and theisolated target cells are dispensed to midstream cell culture wells.Metabolites are then reacted to produce ROS, and solutions aretransported to downstream sensing wells (LOX: lactate oxidase; GOX:glucose oxidase; PDX: pyruvate oxidase; SOD: superoxide dismutase; Pi:inorganic phosphate).

A Sensing System for Detecting Redox Reactive Agents:

A sensing system as described herein was exemplified while using SiNW(silicon nanowires) FET array within one or more sensing compartment(s),whereby at least some of the silicon nanowires were modified byintroducing to the surface thereof a functional group which is beingsuch that upon contacting a sample that contains an oxidizer or areductant, the plurality of nanowires exhibit a detectable change in anelectrical property, which is indicative of the presence and/or amountof a reductant-producing or oxidizer-producing substance, such as, forexample, a metabolite. The functional group can be, for example, a groupthat is capable of undergoing redox reactions, preferably reversibly,and which, as a result of oxidation or reduction, the electron densityon the nanowire changes.

More specifically, a system as described herein was exemplified byreacting amino-functionalized silicon nanowires with9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride to thereby produce9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified SiNW (see, FIG. 1C). In an exemplaryassay, the system was operated by converting small-moleculehydrogen-producing metabolites to peroxide (H₂O₂) by means ofmicrofluidic mixing with oxidase enzymes, within the culturecompartment, and before the metabolite-containing solution reach the FETarray in the sensing compartment. The resulting solution is thenintroducing to the FET array and the produced peroxide oxidizes9,10-dihydroxyanthracene on a FET surface to form 9,10-anthraquinone.This oxidation reaction decreases surface electron density to increase acurrent flowing through the p-type SiNW FET. In another assay, areductant, such as, for example, N,N-diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA),solution is introduced to the sensing compartment and reduces9,10-anthraquinone to 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene to increase surfaceelectron density. Thus, surface electron density is varied by oxidationor by reduction and changes the measured current.

A system comprising 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified field-effecttransistor (FET) sensor array as described herein was successfullyconstructed and characterized (see, for example, FIGS. 1A, 1B, and2A-2D) and was shown to successfully perform in sensing of peroxide(see, FIG. 3), of peroxide-producing metabolites (see, FIGS. 4A-C), andin pH sensing (see, FIGS. 5A-C), in physiological solutions and/orculture medium without preprocessing, and while performingconcentration-dependent sensing over the whole physiologicalconcentration ranges. An exemplary system as described herein was alsoshown to perform sensing of cells while monitoring metabolic activitiesand consequent proliferation rates (see, FIGS. 6A-I). Metabolicsignificances of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia were also validated(see, FIGS. 7A-B and Table 1).

An exemplary system, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention, integrating a redox-reactive nanowire sensing compartment anda microfluidic network, was demonstrated to successfully performmultiplex real-time monitoring of metabolic activity of cells, inphysiological solutions and optionally without preprocessing. Monitoringthe metabolic activity by the exemplary system was also successfullyutilized for validating cancer metabolism and pharmaceutical mechanismsof anticancer agents.

The results, as presented in the Examples section that follows, clearlyindicate that a biosensing methodology as described herein can besuccessfully utilized in monitoring and/or analyzing various metabolicactivities, by, for example, detecting various ROS-producingmetabolites. Such a system can be successfully utilized per se or as apart of an all-inclusive lab-on-a-chip, as described herein and ispresented, for example, in FIGS. 8A-B, in various diagnostic andtherapeutic applications, ranging, for example, from isolating targetcells to sensing, to facilitating high throughput screening (HTS), andto detecting metabolic changes during a treatment to monitor therapyeffectiveness and facilitating personalized treatment.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the sensing system asdescribed herein, there is provided a system which can be utilized fordetecting an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent or a substanceproducing an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent, and which generates adetectable change once such an agent is introduced to or generated inthe system.

A sensing system according to this aspect comprises at least one chamberbeing in controllable fluid communication with a sensing compartment.

According to some embodiments, the chamber is configured to contain afluid and is as described herein and illustrated in FIG. 9.

According to some embodiments, the sensing system is as described hereinand illustrated independently in FIG. 9, FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B.

According to some of any of the embodiments described herein, thesensing compartment comprises a semiconductor nanostructure, asdescribed herein with reference to FIG. 9.

According to some of any of the embodiments relating to a systemaccording to this aspect of the present invention, sensing is performedby means of a functional moiety which is attached to the nanostructure,and which is selected such that upon contacting a redox reactivespecies, the nanostructure exhibits a detectable change in an electricalproperty.

As used herein and in the art, the phrase “redox reactive species”describes a moiety or a compound that can participate in a redoxreaction or reduction-oxidation reactions, either as an oxidizer or areductant, and is capable of altering an oxidation number of one or moreatoms of another substance. This phrase is used herein throughout todescribe both an oxidizer and a reductant.

Herein throughout, for any one of the embodiments described herein forany of the aspects of the present invention, an “oxidizer”, which isalso referred to herein interchangeably as “an oxidizing/oxidativeagent” or “an oxidizing/oxidative moiety” or “an oxidizing/oxidativespecies” describes a moiety, species or a compound that is capable ofelevating the oxidation number of one or more atoms of anothersubstance. Typically, such an alteration involves transformation ofprotons from the other substance to the oxidizing moiety or compound.

Exemplary oxidizing agents that are suitable for being detected using asensing system as described herein include, but are not limited to,reactive oxygen species (ROS) or compounds generated by reactive oxygenspecies.

As used herein throughout, and is well known in the art, reactive oxygenspecies include oxygen-containing molecules and/or ions in which anoxygen atom is in a free radical form (having an unpaired electron) ormolecules or ions that readily generate species featuring one or oxygenfree radical or oxygen in singlet state. Examples include, withoutlimitations: ozone, peroxides, RO., and ROO., in which R is an organicmoiety or hydrogen. In the presence of water or any other proticsolvent, ROS typically generate hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide orany other peroxide is therefore an exemplary oxidizing agent accordingto some embodiments of the present invention.

Herein throughout, for any one of the embodiments described herein forany of the aspects of the present invention, a “reductant”, which isalso referred to herein interchangeably as “a reducing/reductive agent”or “a reducing/reductive moiety” or “a reducing/reductive species”describes a moiety, species or a compound that is capable of reducingthe oxidation number of another substance. Typically, such an alterationinvolves transformation of protons from the reducing agent to the othersubstance.

Suitable reducing agents include, for example, moieties or species thatupon release of one or more protons form a stable anion. Exemplary suchagents include, for example, hydroxyl-containing agents that form astable enolate anion upon releasing one or more protons. Compounds ormoiety containing an amine-oxide group are given herein as an example.N-alkyl- or N,N-dialkyl-hydroxyl amines (e.g., DMHA) are given as arepresentative example. Any other known reducing agents are alsocontemplated.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the functionalmoiety is a redox-reactive moiety, which upon contacting the redoxreactive agent, a change in the oxidation number of one or more of itsatoms occurs.

Preferably, the functional moiety is such that can easily be transformedfrom a reduced state to oxidized state, and vice versa, namely, featuresa change in the oxidation number of its atom(s) at a low energy barrier.The functional moiety can be regarded as such that can feature areversible change in an oxidation number of one or more of its atoms,namely, a reversible redox change or transformation. A reversible redoxchange of a moiety or group can be determined, for example, by cyclicvoltametry measurements.

Exemplary functional moieties are such that feature a redox potentialthat ranges from about −1.0 to about 1.0 Volt, or from −0.8 to 0.8 Volt,or from −0.6 to 0.6 Volt or from −0.5 to 0.5 Volt, or from −0.4 to 0.4Volt, or from −0.3 to 0.3 Volt or from −0.2 to 0.2 Volt, or from −0.1 to0.1 Volt, as well as lower potentials and any value therebetween.

A functional moiety can comprises at least one functional group that iscapable of undergoing a reversible redox change, as described herein.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein for a functionalmoiety, a length of the functional moiety is smaller than 2 nm, smallerthan 1.5 nm, and even smaller than 1 nm. This allows the formation ofthe charge transfer complex to occur close to the nanostructures'surface, thereby enhancing the device's sensitivity.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the functionalmoiety is selected such that a Debye length of at least 100 nm, at least500 nm, at least 800 nm and even 1 micron and higher is exhibited.

As used herein and in the art, the phrase “Debye length” describes thedistance over which significant charge separation can occur.

An exemplary functional moiety comprises at least one functional groupthat is capable of undergoing a keto-enol tautomerization, as this termis well known in the art.

Moieties comprising one or more functional groups capable of undergoingketo-enol tautomerization include, for example, a quinone moiety and canbe collectively represented by the following scheme 1:

wherein R₁-R₄ are each independently selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, halo, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy,carboxy and any other chemically compatible substituent, as describedherein, or, alternatively, R₁ and R₂ and/or R₃ and R₄ form together acarbocylic ring, which can be substituted or unsubstituted.

A carbocylic ring encompasses 5-membered or 6-membered aromatic oralicyclic ring. Heterocyclic and heteroatomatic rings, as definedherein, are also contemplated.

Preferably, one or both of R₁ and R₂ and R₃ and R₄ form together anaromatic ring (including heteroaromatic ring), which can be substitutedor unsubstituted. Such moieties are referred to herein as aromaticquinones, and include, for example, benzoquinone, anthraquinone,phenanthrenequinone, each being substituted or unsubstituted, asdescribed herein.

In Scheme 1 above, the moiety on the left (A) represents a moietyfeaturing atoms in a reduced state (reduced oxidation number) and themoiety on the right (B) represents a moiety featuring atoms in elevatedoxidation number, and transformation between the two states is effectedby proton transfer and is referred to herein as redox change or redoxtransformation.

For detecting an oxidizing agent, the moiety A on the left in scheme 1is to be used for generating a functional moiety on the nanostructuresurface. Such a moiety, in the presence of an oxidizing agent undergoeselectron delocalization and proton loss, and generates the moiety B onthe right in scheme 1.

For detecting a reducing agent, the moiety on the right is to be used.

Additional exemplary functional groups that can be included in a redoxreactive functional moiety as described herein include, but are notlimited to, NADH and analogs thereof, as depicted in Schemes 2-4 below;FADH₂ and analogs thereof, as depicted in Scheme 5, ferrocene andanalogs, derivatives and metal complexes thereof, as depicted in Scheme6, porphyrinogenic organometallic complexes, ferrocyanide and analogsthereof.

wherein R and R₁-R₄ are each independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, halo, trihaloalkyl,alkoxy, carboxy and any other chemically compatible substituent, asdescribed herein, or, alternatively, R₁ and R₂ and/or R₃ and R₄ formtogether a carbocylic ring, which can be substituted or unsubstituted,as defined herein.

An exemplary such functional moiety is depicted in Scheme 4 below.

wherein R₁-R₆ are each independently selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, halo, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy,carboxy and any other chemically compatible substituent, as describedherein, or, alternatively, two or more of R₂-R₆ form together acarbocylic ring, which can be substituted or unsubstituted, as definedherein.

wherein R₁-R₄ are each independently selected from the group consistingof hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, halo, trihaloalkyl, alkoxy,carboxy and any other chemically compatible substituent, as describedherein, or, alternatively, two or more of R₁-R₄ form together acarbocylic ring, which can be substituted or unsubstituted, as definedherein; and

X is hydrogen or, preferably a metal atom or ion, optionally furthersubstituted by additional, one or more, ferrocene moiety or moieties,which can be the same or different. It is to be noted that if more thanone ferrocene moiety are present, the redox reaction involves electrontransfer that corresponds to the number of ferrocene moieties.

Exemplary, non-limiting porphyrinogenic organometallic complexesinclude, porphyrin, tetramethylpyridilporphyrin [5, 10, 15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)-porphine] [TMPyP];tetrahydroxyphenylporphyrine [5, 10, 15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H, 23H-porphine] [TP(OH)P];tetraphenylporphyrin [5, 10, 15, 20-tetraphenyl-21H, 23H-porphine][TPP]; 4, 4′, 4″, 4′″-(porphine-5, 10, 15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzenesulfonic acid) [TBSP]; hematoporphyrin;protoporphyrin IX, chlorophylle, heme and corrin, complexed with atransition metal such as, for example, cobalt [Co], nickel [Ni], iron[Fe], zinc [Zn], and copper [Cu]. Other metals are and porphyrinogenicligands and any combination thereof are also contemplated.

According to some of any of the embodiments described herein for asensing system for detecting redox reactive moieties, the redox reactivemoiety is an oxidizer and the functional moiety is in its reduced state,such that upon contacting an oxidizer, it is oxidized and as result andgenerates a change in electrical property of the nanostructure.

In some embodiments, when the functional moiety is oxidized by anoxidizer, the electron density on the nanostructure surface is reduced.When the functional moiety is reduced, electron density on thenanostructure surface is increased.

Reference is made in this regard to FIG. 1D and to the description inExample 1, which are to be taken as describing an exemplary,non-limiting embodiment, exemplifying an embodiment for a mode ofoperation of a sensing system as described in this aspect.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the functionalmoiety is covalently attached to the nanostructure's surface by means ofcovalent bonds formed between reactive groups within the functionalmoiety and compatible reactive groups on the surface of thenanostructures, directly or via a linker.

Reactive groups on the nanostructure's surface are either intrinsic orcan be generated upon a suitable treatment. In some embodiments, wherethe nanostructure is SiNW or silicon nanotubes, free hydroxyl groups areintrinsically present on the surface of the nanostructures and can beutilized for attaching functional moieties thereto.

Alternatively, the nanostructures described herein are firstsurface-modified so as to generate surface reactive groups. Such asurface modification can be performed by, for example, attaching tointrinsic functional groups on the nanostructure surface a bifunctionallinker molecule, which comprises in one terminus thereof a reactivegroup that is capable of forming a bond with these intrinsic functionalgroups and in another terminus thereof a reactive group that can form abond with the functional moiety as described herein or with a reactivegroup therein.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the functionalmoiety comprises, prior to being attached to the nanostructure, areactive group that can readily react with a reactive group on thenanostructure surface, as described herein, so as to form a covalentbond with the nanostructure surface.

Selecting reactive groups that are compatible with functional groups onthe nanostructure of choice is within the capabilities of any personskilled in the art, particularly in view of the guidance providedherein.

In some embodiments, when the nanostructure is SiNW or siliconnanotubes, the functional moiety comprises a reactive group capable offorming covalent bond with free hydroxy groups on the nanostructuresurface. Exemplary such reactive groups include, but are not limited to,halides and alkoxides, which can act as leaving groups so as to form anether bond, carboxylic acids or esters, which can form an ester bond viaesterification or trans esterfication, as well as halosilanes andorthosilicates, which can form —Si—O— bonds.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the functional moiety isattached to the nanostructure via any one of the bonds described herein.

In some embodiments, the functional moiety is attached to thenanostructure via a bifunctional linker, as described herein.

An exemplary such a linker is derived from an orthosilicate thatcomprises 1, 2 or 3 —OR groups attached to Si, for forming —Si—O—Sibonds with intrinsic hydroxyl groups on the silicon nanostructuresurface, and 1, 2 or 3 hydrocarbon groups (e.g., alkyl, alkylene,cycloalkyl, aryl) terminating with a reactive group that is capable ofreacting with a reactive group of the functional moiety as describedherein, such that the total number of groups attached to the Si atom is4.

In exemplary embodiments, the linker is an orthosilicate comprising anaminoalkyl, one or more alkyl groups and one or more alkoxy groupsattached to the Si atom. In one example, the linker is derived from(3-aminoalkyl)-orthosilicatedimethyl-ethoxysilane (APDMES). Such linkersgenerate a reactive amine group on the surface of the nanostructure.Similar orthosilicate terminating with other reactive groups, such as,for example, described herein, are also contemplated.

As discussed hereinabove, the functional moiety can be attached to thenanostructure by means of a reactive group that is compatible with areactive group on the nanostructure surface. A functional moiety asdescribed herein is derived from a compound featuring a redox reactivityas described herein, which further comprises a reactive group asdescribed herein, directly or indirectly (e.g., via a linker) attachedthereto.

For compounds as presented in Schemes 1, 3, 5 and 6 herein, the reactivegroup can be, or form a part of (as a substituent), any one or R₁-R₄ orR₁-R₆ or, a substituent on the carbocylic ring(s) formed by R₁ and R₂and/or R₃ and R₄, or R₁-R₄, or R₂-R₆ as described herein.

For porphyrinogenic complexes, the reactive group can be a substituentof the porphyrin-type ligand.

In an exemplary embodiment, the functional moiety is attached to thenanostructure via a sulfonamide bond, formed from a sulfonate reactivegroup and an amine reactive group.

In an exemplary embodiment, the functional moiety is a quinone, asdescribed herein, preferably an aromatic quinone, which comprises one ormore sulfonate-containing substituents. In an exemplary embodiment, sucha functional moiety is attached to modified nanowires exhibiting aminegroups by means of a sulfonamide bond.

Functional moieties which are metal-containing complexes, can becovalently attached to the nanostructure, as described hereinabove, or,alternatively or in addition, be absorbed to the nanostructure surface,non-covalently.

Multi-Component Systems:

For any one of the sensing systems as described herein, and any one ofthe embodiments thereof, the sensing system can comprise a plurality ofsensing compartment(s) comprising a nanostructure as described herein,which can be the same or different.

In some of these embodiments, one or more, or each of the plurality ofsensing compartments can independently be a sensing compartment fordetecting redox reactive agents or species as described herein andaccording to any one of the embodiments described herein with respectthereto.

For any one of the sensing systems as described herein, and any one ofthe embodiments thereof, the sensing system can further comprise anadditional sensing compartment or device, in addition to thenanostructure-based sensing compartment as described herein, or, forembodiments describing optionally other sensing compartment s, insteadof the nanostructure-based sensing compartment.

Exemplary sensing devices or compartment s include, for example, opticalsensing devices or compartments.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein for a sensingsystem that comprises a semiconductor nanostructure sensing compartment,the system may comprise additional, one or more sensing compartment(s),being devoid of the semiconductor nanostructure and also in fluidcommunication with one or more of the chambers of the samplecompartment, wherein said additional sensing compartment or device isconfigured to receive signals from this additional compartment.

The Sensing Method:

According to an aspect of some of any of the embodiments describedherein, there is provided a method detecting a target molecule.

Any one of the sensing systems as described herein is usable fordetecting a target molecule upon introducing a sample containing thetarget molecule or generating the target molecule to the samplecompartment, as described herein.

By “introducing” are encompassed placing, injecting, incubating, flowing(e.g., by means of microchannels), etc., and any combination thereof.

When the sensing system comprises two or more chambers in the samplecompartment, two or more samples can be introduced to the samplecompartment, each introduced to a different chamber. Sensing can then beeffected to both samples simultaneously or sequentially, by controllingthe fluid communication between each chamber and the sensingcompartment.

Optionally, when sensing is effected sequentially, washing the sensingcompartment is effected between sequential sensing.

In some embodiments, the sample compartment further comprises a chambercontaining a washing fluid (e.g., washing solution), as described infurther detail hereinafter.

As used herein and in the art “detecting” encompasses determining apresence and/or amount of a target molecule.

As used herein, the term “target molecule”, which is also referred toherein interchangeably as “target moiety”, “target species”, adetectable moiety or a detectable species, describes a compound, moietyor species that contacts a sensing compartment and induces a detectablechange.

The sensing compartment used in the method is designed such that adetectable change occurs when the target molecule contacts it, asdescribed herein.

In some of the embodiments according to this aspect, determining apresence and/or amount of a target molecule is indicative of a presenceand/or amount of a component of the sample that generates or producesthe target molecule.

In some of these embodiments, generation or production of the targetmolecule is effected in situ, namely, upon subjecting the introducedsample to conditions under which the target molecule isgenerated/produced.

Such conditions include, for example, a reagent that reacts with thesample or with components thereof, so as to generate the targetmolecule, directly or indirectly.

Other conditions include, for example, altering the pH of the sample, bycontacting it with a pH-adjusting reagent.

Subjecting the introduced sample to conditions under which the targetmolecule is generated may be effected, for example, by containing asolution of the reagent in one of the chambers in the samplecompartment, and allowing fluid communication between each of thechamber containing the sample and the chamber containing the reagentwith the sensing compartment. The fluid communication is preferablyeffected simultaneously from both chambers, but also be effectedsequentially, with a short time interval.

Alternatively, a fluid communication is effected between the twochambers, optionally to an additional chamber, and then a fluidcommunication to the sensing compartment is effected.

In any one of these embodiments, the chamber which provides conditionsfor generating the target molecule forms a part of the sensing system.

Further alternatively, the reagent is added to the same chamber to whichthe sample is introduced, prior to effecting fluid communication betweenthe chamber and the sensing compartment. The reagent and the sample canalso be introduced together to the same chamber.

In case two or more samples are analyzed for a detectable moiety, eachof the samples can be independently subjected to the conditions asdescribed herein.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein for the sensingmethod, the sensing system utilized is for sensing redox reactiveagents, as described herein.

According to an aspect of any one of the embodiments of a detectionmethod as described herein, there is provided a method of determining apresence and/or amount of a redox reactive agent in one or more fluidsample(s).

In some embodiments of this aspect, the method is effected byintroducing the sample(s) to a sensing system as described herein in thecontext of redox reactive agents.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein, once the sampleis introduced to a chamber in the sample compartment, or once the sampleis subjected to conditions in which a redox reactive agent is generated,detection is performed by fluidly communicating the chamber with thesensing compartment.

As discussed hereinabove, the sensing compartment is such that uponcontacting the redox reactive agent, a detectable change in anelectrical property of the nanostructure(s) forming the sensingcompartment is effected, and is indicative of the presence and/or amountof the redox reactive agent in a tested sample.

The method can be performed by introducing one or more samples to thesample compartment and/or by subjecting one or more of these samples toconditions which generate the redox reactive species.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein, the method isfor determining a presence and/or amount of a substance producing anoxidizing agent or a reducing agent in one or more fluid samples, andcan further comprise subjecting one or more of the fluid sample(s) to areaction condition under which the substance produces the redox reactiveagent.

In some exemplary embodiments of any one of these embodiments, thereaction conditions under which a substance in the sample produces theredox reactive agent include oxidizing or reducing conditions, and insome exemplary embodiments, the conditions include pH adjustment.

Providing these conditions can be effected by means of, for example,suitable chemical reagents, or biological activators such as, forexample, enzymes, receptor ligands, hormones, and the like.

In some of any of these embodiments, the reagent in an enzyme, such as,for example, an oxidase or a reductase, that catalyzes a production ofan oxidizing agent or a reducing agent by the substance, respectively.

In some of any of these embodiments, a different reaction condition(e.g., the reagent) is used for different samples, and the method iseffected by subjecting, as described herein, each sample to itsrespective condition, prior to fluidly communicating the sample (uponbeing subjected to the condition) to a sensing compartment.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein, the redoxreactive agent is an oxidizer, as described herein, for example, ROS ora peroxide produced thereby.

In these embodiments, the functional moiety in the sensing compartmentis selected capable of interacting with the oxidizer while effecting achange in an electrical property of the nanostructure, as describedherein.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the tested samplecomprises an oxidizer as described herein (e.g., H₂O₂).

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein, the testedsample comprises a substance producing an oxidizer, and the method isfor determining a presence and/or amount of this substance in thesample.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein, the substance isa metabolite which produces an oxidizer under suitable conditions.

Almost any biological metabolite can be subjected to a condition suchas, for example, enzymatic reactions or chemical reagents, under whichit produces ROS and subsequent H₂O₂.

Non-limiting examples, to list a few, include:

Lactate, which produces H₂O₂ in a reaction catalyzed by a lactateoxidase;

Glucose, which produces H₂O₂ in a reaction catalyzed by a glucoseoxidase;

Pyruvate, which produces H₂O₂ in the presence of inorganic phosphate andoxygen;

Hypoxanthine, which produces H₂O₂ in a reaction catalyzed by xanthineoxidase;

NAD(P)H, which produces a superoxide in a reaction catalyzed by NAD(P)Hoxidase;

Superoxide (O₂ ⁻), which produces H₂O₂ in a reaction catalyzed bysuperoxide dismutase

Aldehydes, which produce H₂O₂ in reaction catalyzed by a respectivealdehyde oxidase.

Similarly, some metabolites produce reductants, as described herein,upon being subjected to respective enzymatic reductases, dehydrogenasesor reducing chemical environment (e.g., H₂-containing environment). Anyother conditions under which a metabolite or any other substance (e.g.,a biological substance) produces an oxidizer or a reductant arecontemplated herein.

In an exemplary general method of detecting a redox reactive moiety or asubstance producing a redox reactive moiety, a sample as describedherein is introduced to a chamber is the sample compartment, isoptionally subjected to one or more conditions, such as, for example, toculture conditions, chemical conditions, therapeutic conditions and/orconditions for producing a redox reactive moiety, and, then is fluidlycommunicated with a sensing compartment for detecting a redox reactiveagent, according to any one of the embodiments described herein forsensing a redox reactive agent.

In one exemplary embodiment, a solution containing a redox reactiveagent, such as, for example, hydrogen peroxide, is introduced to achamber in the sample compartment and is then fluidly communicated witha sensing compartment for a redox reactive agent, as described herein.The signal generated by the sensing compartment is indicative for thepresence and/or amount of the metabolite.

In one exemplary embodiment, a solution containing a metabolite,optionally a physiological solution (e.g., a physiological medium), isintroduced to one chamber in a sample compartment as described herein(e.g., a sample chamber). A solution containing a condition under whichthe metabolite produced a redox reactive agent is introduced (e.g., asuitable oxidase or chemical reagent) to another chamber in the samplecompartment (e.g., a reagent chamber or a condition chamber). The twochambers are fluidly communicated, optionally by being flowed to a thirdchamber (e.g., a test chamber), and the third chamber is then fluidlycommunicated with a sensing compartment as described herein. The signalgenerated by the sensing compartment is indicative for the presenceand/or amount of the metabolite.

A reference data of signals generated by this method for variousconcentrations of various metabolites can be used for processing dataacquired from more complex samples, so as to monitor and analyze ametabolic activity of cells, so as to determine, for example, abnormalmetabolic activity or an improvement thereof, as is discussed in furtherdetail hereinafter.

Herein throughout, a “condition” encompasses chemical reagents,biological reagents, biological conditions (e.g., culture medium),heating, radiation, therapy (e.g., medicament or any other treatmentsuch as radiation), and the like.

In one exemplary embodiment, a cell is introduced to one chamber in thesample compartment, and subjected to culture conditions. For example,culture medium, which is stored in one chamber in the sample compartment(e.g., a first reagent chamber) is fluidly communicated with the chambercontaining the cell (e.g., a sample chamber). Thereafter, cultured cellsare subjected, optionally, to viability assay, for determining number ofviable cells and/or proliferation rate of the cells. For example, aportion of the cultured cells in the chamber can be fluidly communicatedwith another chamber, which includes conditions for a viability assay orproliferation assay. Alternatively or in addition, portion of thecultured cells can be subjected to another condition, for example, atherapy or therapeutic agent (e.g., medicament or any other treatment),and be cultured in the presence of the medicament or treatment (e.g., ina first reagent chamber). Further alternatively, cells can first becultured, and then subjected to a medicament or other treatment by beingflowed to a chamber containing the medicament or treatment (e.g., asecond reagent chamber). Alternatively, cells can be flowed to anotherchamber and a solution containing the medicament or treatment can beintroduced to a different chamber and be flowed to the same chamber asthe cells (e.g., a sample chamber).

Alternatively to a condition of a therapy or therapeutic agent (e.g., amedicament or treatment), or in addition thereto, a cells solution (withand/or without therapy) is subjected to a condition for generated aredox reactive moiety, as described hereinabove. For example, cellssubjected to a therapy are flowed (fluidly communicated) to yet anotherchamber (e.g., test chamber) and a condition solution is flowed (fluidlycommunicated) to that chamber as well. The chamber is then fluidlycommunicated with a sensing compartment. Intact cells, not subjected toa therapy are similarly subjected to the condition for producing a redoxreactive agent and fluidly communicated with a sensing compartment.

Optionally, each of the cells samples described herein is fluidlycommunicated to one sensing compartment in a system which comprises aplurality of sensing compartments as described herein (see, for example,FIG. 11C).

Sensing data acquired for each and every of the above described chambersis indicative of a metabolic activity of the cell, optionally upon beingsubjected to a condition such as a medicament or other treatment.

In some of any one of the embodiments described herein for a method,after a chamber is fluidly communicating with a sensing compartment asdescribed herein, one or more washing solutions, present in one or morechambers of the sample compartment, are fluidly communicated with thesensing compartment. In some of these embodiments, a washing solution isused so as to “normalize” the functional moiety, namely, to change theoxidation state in the functional moiety to its original oxidation sate.For example, a washing solution is used to transfer a functional moietythat has been oxidized by an oxidizing target moiety to a reduced statethereof or transfer a functional moiety that has been reduced by areductant target moiety to an oxidized state thereof. Alternatively orin addition, a solution containing a pH adjusting agent is used as awashing solution.

Alternatively, in any one of the method steps described herein, pHsensing can also be effected, as exemplified in the Examples sectionthat follows.

The Sample:

The sample introduced to any one of the sensing systems as describedherein can be, for example, a solution containing the target moiety orthe substance producing the target moiety, as described herein.

Alternatively, the sample is more complex and comprises, for example,cells, a biological sample, a biological sample comprising cells, eachof which may further comprise additional agents, reagents, media and thelike, as generally described hereinabove.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein, the sample comprisescells and the method can be used for determining a presence and/oramount of the target moiety (e.g., a redox reactive agent as describedherein) or of substance producing the redox reactive agent, in thecells.

When the substance is a metabolite, the method can be used indetermining, monitoring and/or analyzing a metabolic activity of thecell.

As used herein “cell” refers to a prokaryotic or a eukaryotic cell forwhich the above metabolic activity can be measured. The cell can be abacteria, yeast, plant, insect or mammalian cell. According to aspecific embodiment, the cell is a human cell. It will be appreciatedthat the cell may refer to a single cell but may also refer to aplurality of cells. The cells may be isolated cells (having no tissueorganization) or cells in a tissue or tissue fragment. According to aspecific embodiment, when the cells are PBMCs, the assay is done on10³-10¹⁰ cells. According to a specific embodiment the number of cellsis 10⁶-10⁷.

The cell may be a differentiated cell, a non-differentiated cell (e.g.,stem cell) or a dedifferentiated cell.

According to one embodiment, the cell is a cell of the immune system,that is a white blood cell (i.e., a leukocyte). Examples include, aneutrophil, an eosinophil, a basophil, a lymphocyte (T cell or B cell),a monocyte, a macrophage and a dendritic cell.

According to another embodiment, the cell is a pathogenic or diseasedcell of any tissue such as a cancer cell. Other diseases and medicalconditions which can be detected according to the present teachings areprovided below.

Other cells which may be analyzed according to the present teachingsinclude, but are not limited to, en embryonic cell (such as for IVFqualification), a red blood cell, a platelet, a bacterial-infected cell,a fungus-infected cell, and a viral infected cell.

Thus, the cell may refer to an isolated population of cells whichcomprise a highly purified subset of specific cells i.e., homogenic cellpopulation (e.g. >80% purity), e.g., T cells, or a heterogenic cellpopulation which comprises various types of immune cells such asperipheral blood leukocytes (PBL) or mononuclear cells.

Cells may be non-cultured, cultured primary cells or cloned cells (e.g.,cell-line).

The cells may be adherent cells or cells in suspension.

According to further embodiments, the cells can be non-geneticallymodified or genetically modified.

According to some of any of the embodiments described herein, two ormore samples, each comprising a different cell or a different solutionof a cell, can be introduced simultaneously to the system (e.g., eachsample is introduced to a different chamber in the sample compartment).Optionally, introducing is without pre-processing the sample.

Each of these samples can be subjected to the same or differentconditions before sensing is effected, as described herein.

Optionally, the same sample is subjected to different conditions, andsensing is effected upon each subjection.

A sample as described herein can be a cellular biological sample.

Exemplary cellular biological samples include, but are not limited to,blood (e.g., peripheral blood leukocytes, peripheral blood mononuclearcells, whole blood, cord blood), a solid tissue biopsy, cerebrospinalfluid, urine, lymph fluids, and various external secretions of therespiratory, intestinal and genitourinary tracts, synovial fluid,amniotic fluid and chorionic villi.

Biopsies include, but are not limited to, surgical biopsies includingincisional or excisional biopsy, fine needle aspirates and the like,complete resections or body fluids. Methods of biopsy retrieval are wellknown in the art.

Upon being introduced to the system, cells in any one of the samplesdescribed herein can be grown within the chamber to which they areintroduced, either in physiological medium or in the presence ofadditional reagents (e.g., a medicament, as described herein).

Applications:

A sensing method as described hereinabove, can be utilized in a varietyof diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

In some embodiments, at least one fluid sample which comprises a cellfurther comprises a therapeutic agent, and the method as describedherein is used for determining or monitoring activity of the cell uponcontacting the therapeutic agent.

Such a method can be used for determining an efficacy of the therapeuticagent towards the cell.

In some embodiments the substance is a metabolite, and the method isbeing for monitoring a metabolic activity (MA) of a cell.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention,there is provided a method of monitoring a metabolic activity of a cell.The method is effected by introducing the cell to any one of the sensingsystems as described herein, optionally subjecting the cell to acondition under which a metabolite generates a target moiety, andfluidly communicating the target moiety with a sensing compartment.

In some embodiments of this aspect, a cell can be introduced to thesystem as described herein, cultured, and then, portions of the culturedcells can be fluidly communicated with different chambers and each canbe subjected to a different condition, and each chamber of eachcondition can then be fluidly communicated with a suitable sensingcompartment, as described herein.

In some embodiments of this aspect, one or more of the sensingcompartments is a sensing compartment for detecting redox reactivemoieties and a cell is subjected to conditions under which a metaboliteproduces a redox reactive moiety, as described herein.

A method of monitoring a metabolic activity of a cell can be used, forexample, for identifying an agent capable of altering a metabolicactivity of the cell, wherein cells cultured, for example, in a systemas described herein, are subjected to a condition which includes atested agent, and then metabolic activity is determined as describedherein. Cultured cells can be subjected simultaneously to differentagents, in different chambers, and each of these chambers can then besubjected to different further conditions for determining amount and/orpresence of one or more metabolites, as described herein.

Using as the fluid sample a biological sample as described herein of asubject in any of the embodiments of a method as described herein can beused for diagnosing a disease associated with a modified metabolicactivity in the subject.

Alternatively, such a method can be used for monitoring a treatment of adisease associated with a modified metabolic activity in the subject.

In some embodiments, the sensing system comprises at least two chambersfor containing a fluid sample, and the method comprises introducing atleast two samples to the sensing system, wherein each of the at leasttwo samples is introduced to each of the at least two chambers, and themethod is being for simultaneously or sequentially determining apresence and/or an amount of the substance in the at least two fluidsamples. In one exemplary embodiment, the two samples include cells, onehealthy cells and one diseased cells, and the method allows comparingthe change in metabolic activity of a diseased cell. In one exemplaryembodiment, the two samples include diseased cells, one subjected to atherapeutic condition (e.g., medicament or treatment) and one subjectedto another therapeutic condition or is not subjected to any condition,and the method allows comparing a change in metabolic activity of adiseased cell as a result of the therapeutic condition, and thus isindicative of a therapeutic efficacy of the tested therapeutic agent.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method of diagnosing a disease associated with amodified metabolic activity in a subject in need thereof. The method iseffected by introducing a cellular sample (a biological cellular sampleas described herein) of the subject to a sensing system as describedherein, and determining a presence and/or amount of one or moremetabolites in the sample, as described herein.

The subject may be a healthy animal or a human subject undergoing aroutine well-being check up. Alternatively, the subject may be at riskof having a disease associated with a modified metabolic activity suchas cancer (e.g., a genetically predisposed subject, a subject withmedical and/or family history of cancer, a subject who has been exposedto carcinogens, occupational hazard, environmental hazard) and/or asubject who exhibits suspicious clinical signs of cancer [e.g., blood inthe stool or melena, unexplained pain, sweating, unexplained fever,unexplained loss of weight up to anorexia, changes in bowel habits(constipation and/or diarrhea), tenesmus (sense of incompletedefecation, for rectal cancer specifically), anemia and/or generalweakness).

As used herein the term “diagnosis” or “diagnosing” refers todetermining presence or absence of a pathology (e.g., a disease,disorder, condition or syndrome), classifying a pathology or a symptom,determining a severity of the pathology, monitoring pathologyprogression, forecasting an outcome of a pathology and/or prospects ofrecovery and screening of a subject for a specific disease.

As used herein “a disease associated with a modified metabolic activity”refers to a disease that is characterized by a cell population that hasundergone a shift in metabolic activity as compared to an identical cellpopulation taken from a normal, healthy (unaffected with the disease).That cell population that has undergone a shift in metabolic activity,can be a pathogenic cell population (i.e., disease-causing cells e.g.,cancer cells) or a non-pathogenic cell population (e.g., diseasecombating cells e.g., immune cells such as in the case of solid-tumor).For instance, in oncology, most cancer cells predominantly and somepopulations of the immune system undergoing clonal expansion produceenergy by a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid productionin the cytosol, rather than by a comparatively low rate of glycolysisfollowed by oxidation of pyruvate in mitochondria like most normalcells.

According to some embodiments, the level (presence and/or amount) of oneor more metabolite(s) in a normal, healthy (unaffected) sample ofidentical cell composition are determined under identical conditionswhich were used to monitor the cells of the subject.

A shift (i.e., a change) in the metabolic activity (a level of one ormore metabolites) between the cells of the subject and those of thecontrol (normal, unaffected), as evidenced from the metabolites level(s)obtained under identical conditions, is indicative of a diseaseassociated with the modified metabolic activity profiles.

Thus, for example, data acquired by a method as described herein forlevel (amount) of metabolites like lactate, optionally combined withdata for level of glucose and/or pyruvate, can be compared with datapresenting levels of one or more of these metabolites in normal cells,so as to determine is a subject has cancer. Moreover, such data can becompared with other data for more accurately determine a type of cancerand/or its origin and/or its stage, based on the level of one or more ofthese metabolites in the biological cellular sample.

The results of the metabolic activity assay may be subject to decisiontree models which classify the results and assist in final diagnosis.According to a preferred embodiment, at least two models are combined(see FIGS. 9 & 10). Examples of such models include, but are not limitedto, CHAID, C5 and C&R Tree. The Logistic model may be further applied.

Examples of medical conditions which can be diagnosed and treated (as isfurther described hereinbelow) according to the present teachingsinclude, but are not limited to, cancer, pathogenic infection andautoimmune diseases. Specific examples are provided in the following.

Inflammatory diseases include, but are not limited to, chronicinflammatory diseases and acute inflammatory diseases.

Inflammatory diseases associated with hypersensitivity diseasesassociated with hypersensitivity such as, but are not limited to, Type Ihypersensitivity, Type II hypersensitivity, Type III hypersensitivity,Type IV hypersensitivity, immediate hypersensitivity, antibody mediatedhypersensitivity, immune complex mediated hypersensitivity, T lymphocytemediated hypersensitivity and DTH. Included are the following, asnon-limiting examples:

Type I or immediate hypersensitivity, such as asthma;

Type II hypersensitivity such as, but are not limited to, rheumatoiddiseases, rheumatoid autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis,spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic diseases, systemicautoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, sclerosis, systemicsclerosis, glandular diseases, glandular autoimmune diseases, pancreaticautoimmune diseases, diabetes, Type I diabetes, thyroid diseases,autoimmune thyroid diseases, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, spontaneousautoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, myxedema, idiopathicmyxedema; autoimmune reproductive diseases, ovarian diseases, ovarianautoimmunity, autoimmune anti-sperm infertility, repeated fetal loss,neurodegenerative diseases, neurological diseases, neurologicalautoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, myastheniagravis, motor neuropathies, Guillain-Barre syndrome, neuropathies andautoimmune neuropathies, myasthenic diseases, Lambert-Eaton myasthenicsyndrome, paraneoplastic neurological diseases, cerebellar atrophy,paraneoplastic cerebellar atrophy, non-paraneoplastic stiff mansyndrome, cerebellar atrophies, progressive cerebellar atrophies,encephalitis, Rasmussen's encephalitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,Sydeham chorea, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, polyendocrinopathies,autoimmune polyendocrinopathies; neuropathies, dysimmune neuropathies;neuromyotonia, acquired neuromyotonia, arthrogryposis multiplexcongenita, cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular autoimmune diseases,atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, granulomatosis,Wegener's granulomatosis, arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis and Kawasakisyndrome; anti-factor VIII autoimmune disease; vasculitises, necrotizingsmall vessel vasculitises, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg and Strausssyndrome, glomerulonephritis, pauci-immune focal necrotizingglomerulonephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis; antiphospholipidsyndrome; heart failure, agonist-like β-adrenoceptor antibodies in heartfailure, thrombocytopenic purpura; hemolytic anemia, autoimmunehemolytic anemia, gastrointestinal diseases, autoimmune diseases of thegastrointestinal tract, intestinal diseases, chronic inflammatoryintestinal disease, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases of themusculature, myositis, autoimmune myositis, Sjogren's syndrome; smoothmuscle autoimmune disease, hepatic diseases, hepatic autoimmunediseases, autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Type IV or T cell mediated hypersensitivity, include, but are notlimited to, rheumatoid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, systemicdiseases, systemic autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus,glandular diseases, glandular autoimmune diseases, pancreatic diseases,pancreatic autoimmune diseases, Type 1 diabetes; thyroid diseases,autoimmune thyroid diseases, Graves' disease; ovarian diseases,prostatitis, autoimmune prostatitis, polyglandular syndrome, autoimmunepolyglandular syndrome, Type I autoimmune polyglandular syndrome,neurological diseases, autoimmune neurological diseases, multiplesclerosis, neuritis, optic neuritis, myasthenia gravis, stiff-mansyndrome, cardiovascular diseases, cardiac autoimmunity in Chagas'disease, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, anti-helper T lymphocyteautoimmunity, hemolytic anemia, hepatic diseases, hepatic autoimmunediseases, hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, biliary cirrhosis,primary biliary cirrhosis, nephric diseases, nephric autoimmunediseases, nephritis, interstitial nephritis, connective tissue diseases,ear diseases, autoimmune connective tissue diseases, autoimmune eardisease, disease of the inner ear, skin diseases, cutaneous diseases,dermal diseases, bullous skin diseases, pemphigus vulgaris, bullouspemphigoid and pemphigus foliaceus.

Examples of delayed type hypersensitivity include, but are not limitedto, contact dermatitis and drug eruption.

Examples of types of T lymphocyte mediating hypersensitivity include,but are not limited to, helper T lymphocytes and cytotoxic Tlymphocytes.

Examples of helper T lymphocyte-mediated hypersensitivity include, butare not limited to, T_(h)1 lymphocyte mediated hypersensitivity andT_(h)2 lymphocyte mediated hypersensitivity.

Autoimmune diseases such as, but are not limited to, cardiovasculardiseases, rheumatoid diseases, glandular diseases, gastrointestinaldiseases, cutaneous diseases, hepatic diseases, neurological diseases,muscular diseases, nephric diseases, diseases related to reproduction,connective tissue diseases and systemic diseases.

Examples of autoimmune cardiovascular diseases include, but are notlimited to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, Wegener'sgranulomatosis, Takayasu's arteritis, Kawasaki syndrome, anti-factorVIII autoimmune disease, necrotizing small vessel vasculitis,microscopic polyangiitis, Churg and Strauss syndrome, pauci-immune focalnecrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis, antiphospholipidsyndrome, antibody-induced heart failure, thrombocytopenic purpura,autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cardiac autoimmunity in Chagas' disease andanti-helper T lymphocyte autoimmunity.

Examples of autoimmune rheumatoid diseases include, but are not limitedto rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Examples of autoimmune glandular diseases include, but are not limitedto, pancreatic disease, Type I diabetes, thyroid disease, Graves'disease, thyroiditis, spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto'sthyroiditis, idiopathic myxedema, ovarian autoimmunity, autoimmuneanti-sperm infertility, autoimmune prostatitis and Type I autoimmunepolyglandular syndrome, diseases include, but are not limited toautoimmune diseases of the pancreas, Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroiddiseases, Graves' disease, spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis,Hashimoto's thyroiditis, idiopathic myxedema, ovarian autoimmunity,autoimmune anti-sperm infertility, autoimmune prostatitis and Type Iautoimmune polyglandular syndrome.

Examples of autoimmune gastrointestinal diseases include, but are notlimited to, chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases, celiac disease,colitis, ileitis and Crohn's disease.

Examples of autoimmune cutaneous diseases include, but are not limitedto, autoimmune bullous skin diseases, such as, but are not limited to,pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus foliaceus.

Examples of autoimmune hepatic diseases include, but are not limited to,hepatitis, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, primary biliarycirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis.

Examples of autoimmune neurological diseases include, but are notlimited to, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis,neuropathies, motor neuropathies; Guillain-Barre syndrome and autoimmuneneuropathies, myasthenia, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome;paraneoplastic neurological diseases, cerebellar atrophy, paraneoplasticcerebellar atrophy and stiff-man syndrome; non-paraneoplastic stiff mansyndrome, progressive cerebellar atrophies, encephalitis, Rasmussen'sencephalitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Sydeham chorea, Gilles dela Tourette syndrome and autoimmune polyendocrinopathies; dysimmuneneuropathies; acquired neuromyotonia, arthrogryposis multiplexcongenita, neuritis, optic neuritis and neurodegenerative diseases.

Examples of autoimmune muscular diseases include, but are not limitedto, myositis, autoimmune myositis and primary Sjogren's syndrome andsmooth muscle autoimmune disease.

Examples of autoimmune nephric diseases include, but are not limited to,nephritis and autoimmune interstitial nephritis.

Examples of autoimmune diseases related to reproduction include, but arenot limited to, repeated fetal loss.

Examples of autoimmune connective tissue diseases include, but are notlimited to, ear diseases, autoimmune ear diseases and autoimmunediseases of the inner ear.

Examples of autoimmune systemic diseases include, but are not limitedto, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis.

Infectious diseases such as, but are not limited to, chronic infectiousdiseases, subacute infectious diseases, acute infectious diseases, viraldiseases, bacterial diseases, protozoan diseases, parasitic diseases,fungal diseases, mycoplasma diseases and prion diseases.

Graft rejection diseases including diseases associated withtransplantation of a graft such as, but are not limited to, graftrejection, chronic graft rejection, subacute graft rejection, hyperacutegraft rejection, acute graft rejection and graft versus host disease.

Allergic diseases which include, but are not limited to, asthma, hives,urticaria, pollen allergy, dust mite allergy, venom allergy, cosmeticsallergy, latex allergy, chemical allergy, drug allergy, insect biteallergy, animal dander allergy, stinging plant allergy, poison ivyallergy and food allergy.

According to a specific embodiment the disease is cancer.

Cancerous diseases include but are not limited to carcinoma, lymphoma,blastoma, sarcoma, and leukemia. Particular examples of cancerousdiseases but are not limited to: Myeloid leukemia such as Chronicmyelogenous leukemia. Acute myelogenous leukemia with maturation. Acutepromyelocytic leukemia, Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia with increasedbasophils, Acute monocytic leukemia. Acute myelomonocytic leukemia witheosinophilia; Malignant lymphoma, such as Birkitt's Non-Hodgkin's;Lymphoctyic leukemia, such as Acute lumphoblastic leukemia. Chroniclymphocytic leukemia; Myeloproliferative diseases, such as Solid tumorsBenign Meningioma, Mixed tumors of salivary gland, Colonic adenomas;Adenocarcinomas, such as Small cell lung cancer, Kidney, Uterus,Prostate, Bladder, Ovary, Colon, Sarcomas, Liposarcoma, myxoid, Synovialsarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma (alveolar), Extraskeletel myxoidchonodrosarcoma, Ewing's tumor; other include Testicular and ovariandysgerminoma, Retinoblastoma, Wilms' tumor, Neuroblastoma, Malignantmelanoma, Mesothelioma, breast, skin, paccreas, cervix, prostate, andovarian.

Thus, the present teachings can be used in disease detection. Followingis a non-limiting embodiment which relates to early cancer detection.

Disease diagnosis made according to the present teachings is followed bysubstantiation of the screen results using gold standard methods. Oncediagnosis is established either relying on the present teachings orsubstantiated using Gold standard methods, the subject is informed ofthe diagnosis and treated as needed.

Thus, according to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention thereis provided a method of disease treatment in a subject in need thereof,the method comprising:

(a) diagnosing a presence of the disease in the subject according to themethod described above; and

(b) treating the subject based on the diagnosis.

Embodiments of the present invention have a variety of applicationspertaining to individually optimizing disease treatment, monitoringdisease treatment in a subject, determining a treatment for a subjectand identifying an agent capable of treating a disease associated withabnormal metabolic activity.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there isprovided a method of individually optimizing disease treatment, themethod comprising:

determining a presence and/or amount of a metabolite in a biologicalsample of the subject which comprises a cell with at least onemedicament, using any one of the relevant methods as described herein,including any embodiments thereof,

whereas a shift in the metabolic activity (as measured by the level ofone or more metabolites, as described herein, of the cell towards thatof a normal healthy cell sample examined under identical conditions isindicative of an efficacious medicament for the disease.

As used herein “individually optimizing treatment” refers to an ex vivomethod of tailoring treatment regimen (e.g., type of medicament, dose).

As used herein a “medicament” describes a formulation of a medicine,medicinal drug or medication, as interchangeably used herein. Examplesof medicaments, include but are not limited to, chemotherapy,antibiotics, antiparasitic drugs, antiviral and the like.

As used herein throughout, for any of the relevant embodiments describedherein, a “therapy” describes a therapeutic agent, which is alsoreferred to herein as a medicament, as well as other treatments such as,for example, radiation, dehydration, devitalization, and the like.

As used herein throughout, cells of a biological sample are contactedwith a medicament or any other treatment within a sample compartment ofa sensing system, as described herein. Herein throughout, the term“contacting” refers to bringing the medicament into the vicinity of acell under conditions such that the medicament contacts the cellmembrane and if needed internalizes thereto. Thus, for example, thecontacting should be effected under buffer conditions, at a temperatureand time sufficient to allow the medicament to affect cell phenotype(e.g., cytotoxic or cytostatic effect). The contacting may be effectedin vitro, ex vivo or in vivo.

According to a specific embodiment, “a shift in the metabolic activityof the cell towards that of a normal healthy cell sample examined underidentical conditions” refers to at least a 10% local or global(throughout the profile) shift preferably towards 100% identity to thecontrol normal healthy cell sample.

A shift beyond a predetermined threshold as will be determined by theskilled artisan is indicative of an efficacious treatment.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present inventionthere is provided a method of monitoring disease treatment in a subject,the method comprising:

(a) administering at least one medicament against the disease to thesubject;(b) retrieving a biological sample which comprises a cell of the subjectfollowing the administering;(c) introducing the biological sample to a sensing system according toany one of the embodiments described herein; anddetermining a level of one or more metabolites in the sample,wherein a level of at least one metabolite, and preferably of severalmetabolites, is indicative of the metabolic activity of the cell andwhereas a shift in the metabolic activity of the cells towards that of anormal healthy cell sample examined under identical conditions isindicative of an efficacious treatment of the disease.

Likewise, there is provided a method of identifying an agent capable ofaltering a metabolic activity of cells, the method comprising:

(a) subjecting cells to an agent;

(b) measuring the metabolic activity of the cells prior to andsubsequent to subjection to the agent, wherein a shift in a level of oneor more metabolites is indicative of an agent capable of altering ametabolic activity of cells.

As used herein, the term “agent” refers to a test composition comprisinga biological agent or a chemical agent.

Examples of biological agents that may be tested as potential modulatorsof metabolic activity according to the method of the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, nucleic acids, e.g., polynucleotides,ribozymes, siRNA and antisense molecules (including without limitationRNA, DNA, RNA/DNA hybrids, peptide nucleic acids, and polynucleotideanalogs having altered backbone structures or other chemicalmodifications); proteins, polypeptides (e.g. peptides), carbohydrates,lipids and “small molecule” drug candidates. “Small molecules” can be,for example, naturally occurring compounds (e.g., compounds derived fromplant extracts, microbial broths, and the like) or synthetic organic ororganometallic compounds having molecular weights of less than about10,000 daltons, preferably less than about 5,000 daltons, and mostpreferably less than about 1,500 daltons.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the presentinvention the agents are anti-cancer, anti-viral or antibiotic agents.

It will be appreciated that the shift, as used herein, can be also adifferent level (e.g., higher level) of MA in same profile; a change inbasal state, and/or a shift in the agent concentration that inducesmaximal MA effect.

Once an agent capable of altering a metabolic activity of cells has beenidentified in accordance with the above teachings, the invention furthercomprises formulating the agent into a pharmaceuticalcomposition/medicament.

A method as described in this aspect can be used for screening for leadcandidates for therapeutically active agents of a disease; for screeningfor therapeutically active agent for treating a disease in a particularsubject; and the like.

According to some embodiments, a method of monitoring disease treatmentin a subject, is effected by:

(a) administering at least one medicament against the disease to thesubject;(b) retrieving a biological sample which comprises a cell of the subjectfollowing said administering;(c) monitoring a presence and/or amount of a metabolite that produces anoxidizing agent or a reducing agent in an extracellular environment ofsaid cell, using any of sensing methods and system as described in anyone of the embodiments described herein,

wherein a change a presence and/or amount of the metabolite isindicative of the metabolic activity of the cell and whereas a shift inthe metabolic activity of the cells towards that of a normal healthycell sample examined under identical conditions is indicative of anefficacious treatment of the disease.

In some embodiments, any of the systems and methods as described hereinfurther includes means for separating target cells from a biologicalsample, as described herein. Such means include, for example,introducing the sample to a chamber in the sample compartment andfluidly communicating the sample with markers, factors, activators,inhibitors or any other biological substance suitable for isolatingtarget cells. The target cells can then be fluidly communicated with,for example, culture medium and/or subjected to sensing in the presenceor absence of a condition, as described herein. Exemplary target cellsare cancerous cells.

Such a methodology is also described herein as a lab-on-chip.

In any of the applications described herein, substances other thanmetabolites, which produce a detectable moiety, can be used fordiagnosing, treating and/or monitoring treatment as described herein, bydetermining a presence and/or amount of the substance in biologicalsamples as described herein.

In some of any of the embodiments described herein for an application ofa method as described herein, a sensing system for detecting redoxreactive agent, as described herein, is utilized, optionally incombination with one or more other sensing systems or sensingcompartments, as described herein.

It is expected that during the life of a patent maturing from thisapplication many relevant nanostructures, functional moieties andmethods of producing same will be developed and the scope of these termsis intended to include all such new technologies a priori.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having”and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.

The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, methodor structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, butonly if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materiallyalter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition,method or structure.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example,the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a pluralityof compounds, including mixtures thereof.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention maybe presented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This appliesregardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to includeany cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range.The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and asecond indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number“to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and aremeant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all thefractional and integral numerals therebetween.

As used herein the term “method” refers to manners, means, techniquesand procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limitedto, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, orreadily developed from known manners, means, techniques and proceduresby practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological, biological,biochemical and medical arts.

As used herein, the term “treating” includes abrogating, substantiallyinhibiting, slowing or reversing the progression of a condition,substantially ameliorating clinical or aesthetical symptoms of acondition or substantially preventing the appearance of clinical oraesthetical symptoms of a condition.

As used herein, the term “amine” describes both a —NR′R″ group and a—NR′— group, wherein R′ and R″ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl,cycloalkyl, aryl, as these terms are defined hereinbelow.

The amine group can therefore be a primary amine, where both R′ and R″are hydrogen, a secondary amine, where R′ is hydrogen and R″ is alkyl,cycloalkyl or aryl, or a tertiary amine, where each of R′ and R″ isindependently alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl.

Alternatively, R′ and R″ can each independently be hydroxyalkyl,trihaloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl,heteroalicyclic, amine, halide, sulfonate, sulfoxide, phosphonate,hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, cyano,nitro, azo, sulfonamide, carbonyl, C-carboxylate, O-carboxylate,N-thiocarbamate, O-thiocarbamate, urea, thiourea, N-carbamate,O-carbamate, C-amide, N-amide, guanyl, guanidine and hydrazine.

The term “amine” is used herein to describe a —NR′R″ group in caseswhere the amine is an end group, as defined hereinunder, and is usedherein to describe a —NR′— group in cases where the amine is a linkinggroup.

Herein throughout, the phrase “end group” describes a group (asubstituent) that is attached to another moiety in the compound via oneatom thereof.

The phrase “linking group” describes a group (a substituent) that isattached to two or more moieties in the compound via two or more atomsthereof.

For example, when am amine group is generated in a surface of ananostructure it is an end group, and upon being covalently attached toa functional moiety, it is a linking group.

The term “alkyl” describes a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon includingstraight chain and branched chain groups. Preferably, the alkyl grouphas 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Whenever a numerical range; e.g., “1-20”, isstated herein, it implies that the group, in this case the alkyl group,may contain 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up toand including 20 carbon atoms. More preferably, the alkyl is a mediumsize alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Most preferably, unlessotherwise indicated, the alkyl is a lower alkyl having 1 to 6 or 1 to 4carbon atoms. The alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted, asdescribed herein.

The alkyl group can be an end group, as this phrase is definedhereinabove, wherein it is attached to a single adjacent atom, or alinking group, as this phrase is defined hereinabove, which connects twoor more moieties via at least two carbons in its chain.

The term “aminoalkyl” is used herein to describe an alkyl substituted byan amine, as defined herein. In some embodiments, the amine substitutesa terminal carbon atom in the alkyl.

The term “cycloalkyl” describes an all-carbon monocyclic or fused ring(i.e., rings which share an adjacent pair of carbon atoms) group whereone or more of the rings does not have a completely conjugatedpi-electron system. The cycloalkyl group may be substituted orunsubstituted, as described herein. The cycloalkyl group can be an endgroup, as this phrase is defined hereinabove, wherein it is attached toa single adjacent atom, or a linking group, as this phrase is definedhereinabove, connecting two or more moieties at two or more positionsthereof.

The term “aryl” describes an all-carbon monocyclic or fused-ringpolycyclic (i.e., rings which share adjacent pairs of carbon atoms)groups having a completely conjugated pi-electron system. The aryl groupmay be substituted or unsubstituted, as described herein. The aryl groupcan be an end group, as this term is defined hereinabove, wherein it isattached to a single adjacent atom, or a linking group, as this term isdefined hereinabove, connecting two or more moieties at two or morepositions thereof. Examples include phenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, andthe like.

The term “heteroaryl” describes a monocyclic or fused ring (i.e., ringswhich share an adjacent pair of atoms) group having in the ring(s) oneor more atoms, such as, for example, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur and, inaddition, having a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Examples,without limitation, of heteroaryl groups include pyrrole, furane,thiophene, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, pyrazole, pyridine, pyrimidine,quinoline, isoquinoline and purine. The heteroaryl group may besubstituted or unsubstituted, as described herein. The heteroaryl groupcan be an end group, as this phrase is defined hereinabove, where it isattached to a single adjacent atom, or a linking group, as this phraseis defined hereinabove, connecting two or more moieties at two or morepositions thereof. Representative examples are pyridine, pyrrole,oxazole, indole, purine and the like.

The term “heteroalicyclic” describes a monocyclic or fused ring grouphaving in the ring(s) one or more atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen andsulfur. The rings may also have one or more double bonds. However, therings do not have a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Theheteroalicyclic may be substituted or unsubstituted, as describedherein. The heteroalicyclic group can be an end group, as this phrase isdefined hereinabove, where it is attached to a single adjacent atom, ora linking group, as this phrase is defined hereinabove, connecting twoor more moieties at two or more positions thereof. Representativeexamples are piperidine, piperazine, tetrahydrofurane, tetrahydropyrane,morpholino and the like.

The term “amine-oxide” describes a —N(OR′)(R″) or a —N(OR′)— group,where R′ and R″ are as defined herein. This term refers to a —N(OR′)(R″)group in cases where the amine-oxide is an end group, as this phrase isdefined hereinabove, and to a —N(OR′)— group in cases where theamine-oxide is an end group, as this phrase is defined hereinabove.

Whenever a group, moiety or compound as described herein is substituted,the substituent can be, for example, one or more of hydroxyalkyl,trihaloalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl,heteroalicyclic, amine, halide, sulfonate, sulfoxide, phosphonate,hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, cyano,nitro, azo, sulfonamide, C-carboxylate, O-carboxylate, N-thiocarbamate,O-thiocarbamate, urea, thiourea, N-carbamate, O-carbamate, C-amide,N-amide, guanyl, guanidine and hydrazine, as defined herein.

The term “halide” and “halo” describes fluorine, chlorine, bromine oriodine.

The term “haloalkyl” describes an alkyl group as defined above, furthersubstituted by one or more halide.

The term “sulfate” describes a —O—S(═O)₂—OR′ end group, as this term isdefined hereinabove, or an —O—S(═O)₂—O— linking group, as these phrasesare defined hereinabove, where R′ is as defined hereinabove.

The term “thiosulfate” describes a —O—S(═S)(═O)—OR′ end group or a—O—S(═S)(═O)—O— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,where R′ is as defined hereinabove.

The term “sulfite” describes an —O—S(═O)—O—R′ end group or a —O—S(═O)—O—group linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′is as defined hereinabove.

The term “thiosulfite” describes a —O—S(═S)—O—R′ end group or an—O—S(═S)—O— group linking group, as these phrases are definedhereinabove, where R′ is as defined hereinabove.

The term “sulfinate” describes a —S(═O)—OR′ end group or an —S(═O)—O—group linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′is as defined hereinabove.

The term “sulfoxide” or “sulfinyl” describes a —S(═O)R′ end group or an—S(═O)— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereR′ is as defined hereinabove.

The term “sulfonate” describes a —S(═O)₂—R′ end group or an —S(═O)₂—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ is asdefined herein.

The term “S-sulfonamide” describes a —S(═O)₂—NR′R″ end group or a—S(═O)₂—NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “N-sulfonamide” describes an R′S(═O)₂—NR″— end group or a—S(═O)₂—NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,where R′ and R″ are as defined herein.

The term “disulfide” refers to a —S—SR′ end group or a —S—S— linkinggroup, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ is as definedherein.

The term “carbonyl” or “carbonate” as used herein, describes a —C(═O)—R′end group or a —C(═O)— linking group, as these phrases are definedhereinabove, with R′ as defined herein.

The term “thiocarbonyl” as used herein, describes a —C(═S)—R′ end groupor a —C(═S)— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ as defined herein.

The term “oxime” describes a ═N—OH end group or a ═N—O— linking group,as these phrases are defined hereinabove.

The term “hydroxyl” describes a —OH group.

The term “alkoxy” describes both an —O-alkyl and an —O-cycloalkyl group,as defined herein.

The term “aryloxy” describes both an —O-aryl and an —O-heteroaryl group,as defined herein.

The term “thiohydroxy” describes a —SH group.

The term “thioalkoxy” describes both a —S-alkyl group, and a—S-cycloalkyl group, as defined herein.

The term “thioaryloxy” describes both a —S-aryl and a —S-heteroarylgroup, as defined herein.

The term “cyano” describes a —C≡N group.

The term “isocyanate” describes an —N═C═O group.

The term “nitro” describes an —NO₂ group.

The term “acyl halide” describes a —(C═O)R″″ group wherein R″″ ishalide, as defined hereinabove.

The term “azo” or “diazo” describes an —N═NR′ end group or an —N═N—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, with R′ asdefined hereinabove.

The term “C-carboxylate” describes a —C(═O)—OR′ end group or a —C(═O)—O—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ is asdefined herein.

The term “O-carboxylate” describes a —OC(═O)R′ end group or a —OC(═O)—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ is asdefined herein.

The term “C-thiocarboxylate” describes a —C(═S)—OR′ end group or a—C(═S)—O— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereR′ is as defined herein.

The term “O-thiocarboxylate” describes a —OC(═S)R′ end group or a—OC(═S)— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereR′ is as defined herein.

The term “N-carbamate” describes an R″OC(═O)—NR′— end group or a—OC(═O)—NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “O-carbamate” describes an —OC(═O)—NR′R″ end group or an—OC(═O)—NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “O-thiocarbamate” describes a —OC(═S)—NR′R″ end group or a—OC(═S)—NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “N-thiocarbamate” describes an R″OC(═S)NR′— end group or a—OC(═S)NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “S-dithiocarbamate” describes a —SC(═S)—NR′R″ end group or a—SC(═S)NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “N-dithiocarbamate” describes an R″SC(═S)NR′— end group or a—SC(═S)NR′— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,with R′ and R″ as defined herein.

The term “urea”, which is also referred to herein as “ureido”, describesa —NR′C(═O)—NR″R′″ end group or a —NR′C(═O)—NR″— linking group, as thesephrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ and R″ are as defined hereinand R′″ is as defined herein for R′ and R″.

The term “thiourea”, which is also referred to herein as “thioureido”,describes a —NR′—C(═S)—NR″R′″ end group or a —NR′—C(═S)—NR″— linkinggroup, with R′, R″ and R′″ as defined herein.

The term “C-amide” describes a —C(═O)—NR′R″ end group or a —C(═O)—NR′—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ and R″are as defined herein.

The term “N-amide” describes a R′C(═O)—NR″— end group or a R′C(═O)—N—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ and R″are as defined herein.

The term “guanyl” describes a R′R″NC(═N)— end group or a —R′NC(═N)—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′ and R″are as defined herein.

The term “guanidine” describes a —R′NC(═N)—NR″R′″ end group or a—R′NC(═N)—NR″— linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove,where R′, R″ and R′″ are as defined herein.

The term “hydrazine” describes a —NR′—NR″R′″ end group or a —NR′—NR″—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, with R′, R″,and R′″ as defined herein.

The term “silyl” describes a —SiR′R″R′″ end group or a —SiR′R″— linkinggroup, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereby each of R′, R″and R′″ are as defined herein.

The term “siloxy” describes a —Si(OR′)R″R′″ end group or a —Si(OR′)R″—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereby each ofR′, R″ and R′″ are as defined herein.

The term “silaza” describes a —Si(NR′R″)R′″ end group or a —Si(NR′R″)—linking group, as these phrases are defined hereinabove, whereby each ofR′, R″ and R′″ is as defined herein.

The term “tetraorthosilicate” describes a —O—Si(OR′)(OR″)(OR′″) endgroup or a —O—Si(OR′)(OR″)— linking group, as these phrases are definedhereinabove, with R′, R″ and R′″ as defined herein.

As used herein, the term “hydrazide” describes a —C(═O)—NR′—NR″R′″ endgroup or a —C(═O)—NR′—NR″— linking group, as these phrases are definedhereinabove, where R′, R″ and R′″ are as defined herein.

As used herein, the term “thiohydrazide” describes a —C(═S)—NR′—NR″R′″end group or a —C(═S)—NR′—NR″— linking group, as these phrases aredefined hereinabove, where R′, R″ and R′″ are as defined herein.

As used herein, the term “methyleneamine” describes an—NR′—CH₂—CH═CR″R′″ end group or a —NR′—CH₂—CH═CR″— linking group, asthese phrases are defined hereinabove, where R′, R″ and R′″ are asdefined herein.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineatedhereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experimentalsupport in the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with theabove descriptions illustrate some embodiments of the invention in a nonlimiting fashion.

Example 1 System Fabrication

An exemplary microfluidic biosensing system (also referred to herein asa microfluidic array or chip), according to some embodiments of thepresent invention, which may be utilized as a nanowire biosensor formultiplex real-time monitoring of metabolites, is presented in FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

The exemplary system included a culture compartment with several wellscontaining one or more solutions (e.g., solutions containing cells,reductant, and/or oxidase enzymes) arranged, individually or incombination, in the wells. The wells were in fluid communication viamicrochannels with a sensing compartment. The sensing compartmentincluded a plurality of functionalized nanostructures. The solutionswere introducible from the wells to the sensing compartment, by means ofsolenoid valves operative to close or to open fluid communicationchannels.

The valves allowed different samples to be switched for multiplexsensing.

In the sensing compartment, a SiNW FET array is modified with aredox-reactive functional group such as, for example,9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride for sensing of ROS, and otherROS-producing small-molecule metabolites. ROS-producing metabolites arereacted to produce H₂O₂ (e.g., peroxides, H₂O₂), for example, in thepresence of oxidase enzymes, before contacting the FET array, asexemplified in FIGS. 1C and 1D.

Then, ROS or consequent H₂O₂ oxidizes 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene on a FETsurface to form 9,10-anthraquinone (FIG. 1D). This oxidation reactiondecreases surface electron density, whereas a reductant, such asN,N-diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA), reduces 9,10-anthraquinone to9,10-dihydroxyanthracene to increase surface electron density.

Surface electron density varied by oxidation or by reduction changes themeasured current.

The above-described microfluidic chip was fabricated as follows.

Nanowire FET Fabrication:

A core of the sensing compartment, a SiNW-FET array, was fabricated byphotolithography. Source and drain electrodes of FETs were defined witha multilayer photoresist structure consisting of LOR5A (Microchem) andS1805 (Shipley). The gap between the source and drain electrodes of theFETs was 2 μm. After exposure and development of the photoresists, thepatterns were metallized by e-beam evaporation of Ti/Pd/Ti (5/60/10 nm,respectively). Electrodes were thereafter insulated with a layer of 60nm Si₃N₄, deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at 80°C. (ICP-PECVD, Axic Inc.), and a layer of 20 nm alumina made by atomiclayer deposition (ALD) (Savannah 200 system, Cambridge Nanotech).

Surface Modification:

After fabrication of the SiNW FET array, the chip was chemicallymodified to perform sensing of cellular metabolites (as depicted, forexample in FIG. 2).

Preparation of 9,10-Anthraquinone-2-Sulfochloride:

The sulfonate group of sodium 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate wasconverted to sulfochloride, using oxalyl chloride and DMF in toluene, asdepicted in inset of FIG. 2.

A mixture of sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (5 grams, 0.0158 mol) andtoluene (150 ml) was placed in 0.25 L round-bottomed flask, equippedwith an automatic water separator (Dean-Stark trap) and condenser, andthe mixture was heated under reflux for 2 hours to dry the reactionmixture. The mixture was thereafter cooled to 60° C. and oxalyl chloride(6 ml) and DMF (2 drops) were added. The resulting mixture was heatedunder reflux for 8 hours and a mixture of toluene and oxalyl chlorideexcess (30 ml) was thereafter distilled. A precipitate of sodiumchloride was collected by filtration and the solvent was removed fromthe filtrate under reduced pressure. A solid residue was dried in vacuumovernight to give anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride (4.36 grams, 90% yield).

Preparation of 9,10-Anthraquinone-Functionalized SiNW FET:

After its fabrication, the SiNW FET array chip was washed with acetone,isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and deionized water (DIW) successively followedby nitrogen drying. Oxygen plasma (100 W, 0.2 Torr) was applied for 15minutes Immediately thereafter, the chip was covered with approx. 100 μl(3-aminopropyl)-dimethyl-ethoxysilane (APDMES; SIA0603.0, Gelest Inc.)for 10 minutes. Then, the chip was placed on a hot plate at 65° C. for 2hours. The chip surface was thereafter washed again with IPA, followedby nitrogen drying.

The APDMES-treated chip was then placed on a hot plate at 115° C. for 25minutes, and was thereafter immersed in a mixture containing 50 mg9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride, 20 ml extra-dry toluene (201547,Bio-lab Ltd.) and 1 ml extra-dry pyridine (270970, SIGMA), at roomtemperature for 24 hours for formation of sulfonamide that connects the9,10-anthraquinone group to the SiNW modified surface.

Surface Characterization:

Elemental composition of 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride used forsurface modification was verified using mass spectroscopy, performed(Autospec M250Q, Waters) by applying following parameters: a measurementmode of electron impact, positive ionization at 70 eV, CH₂Cl₂ as asolvent.

The monolayer on the 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfochloride-treated modifiedFET was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

XPS measurements were performed (Multi-Technique System 5600, PHI) inultra-high vacuum (2.5×10⁻¹⁰ Torr base pressure). A sample wasirradiated with an A1 Kα monochromated source (1486.6 eV) and outcomeelectrons were analyzed by a spherical capacitor analyzer using a slitaperture of 0.8 mm.

FIGS. 2A-C present the data obtained in XPS measurements during surfacemodification and characterization of redox-reactive SiNW FETs. FIG. 2Apresents XPS measurements of SiNW surface prior to modification. FIG. 2Bpresents XPS measurements following silanization of the SiNW surfaceusing APDMES, so as to generate amine groups. FIG. 2C presents theformation of a sulfonamide bond that connects 9,10-anthraquinone groupto the amine-modified surface. In each of FIGS. 2A-2C, XPS spectra andatomic compositions of the modified surface for carbon (C), nitrogen (N)and sulfur (S) in each modification step are presented.

The obtained XPS spectra and atomic compositions of the modified surfacepresented in FIGS. 2A-C show the increase of carbon (C), nitrogen (N)and sulfur (S) after each modification step.

FIG. 2D presents XPS representative survey spectra of the oxidized9,10-anthraquinone-modified silicon nanowire surface (the blue curve)and reduced 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified silicon nanowire surface(the red curve). Percentage of C═O bonds was calculated from C1s curvefitting. After reduction of the surface, a decrease in C═O bondpopulation was observed.

Samples for estimating surface chemistry during redox were eitheroxidized by using 1 mM H₂O₂, or reduced by 1% v/v DEHA(N,N-diethylhydroxylamine) Since samples were slightly charged duringmeasurements, the input was corrected mathematically, with C1s at 285 eVtaken as an energy reference. All the measurements were performed at ashallow take-off angle of 25°.

PDMS Cell Culture Compartment Featured with Solenoid-Actuated PDMSValves:

A PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) culture compartment with solenoid-actuatedvalves, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, for cell culture andcontrol of multiple solutions, was fabricated using soft lithography.Fabrication of solenoid-activated PDMS valves was according to Hulme etal. Lab Chip 2009, 9(1): 79-86. The valves were thereafter incorporatedinto the PDMS culture compartment.

Example 2 Sensing Experimental Methods:

General Sensing Setup:

A data acquisition system was used to measure the current of a SiNW FET(Ids) induced by surface charges from ROS or H₂O₂, during oxidation ofan analyte in an analyte solution, or from a reductant, during reductionof an analyte in an analyte solution.

For measurements of cellular metabolites/activity, cells were culturedin the chip, namely, in the culture compartment thereof (see, forexample, FIG. 1A), while placing the chip in an incubator duringmeasurements. A sample was introduced to the sensing compartment at 20μl min⁻¹ by using a syringe pump.

Voltage applied to the drain and source (Vds) was 0.2 V, while voltageto the gate (Vg) was determined from Ids-Vg characteristics beforesensing.

Current-versus-time signals were recorded at 1-second intervals.

All acquired signals were reversed due to presetting of the dataacquisition system. During a measurement, switching of samples may haveintroduced some noises into electrical readouts. After each measurement,an analyte solution was replaced by a reductant, 1% v/v DEHA, to reducethe FET surface (see, FIG. 1D) to reach an electrical base level forsubsequent measurements.

H₂O₂ Sensing:

A data acquisition system was used to measure the current of a SiNW FET(Ids) induced by surface charges from H₂O₂, for solutions containingvarious concentrations of H₂O₂.

Lactate, Glucose and Pyruvate Sensing:

For lactate sensing, 0.1 unit/ml of lactate oxidase (LOX; L0638, SIGMA)was added in phenol red-free medium to convert lactate to pyruvate andH₂O₂ before lactate reaches the FET array (as depicted in FIG. 1D).

Glucose sensing in PBS was similarly performed with 40 units/ml ofglucose oxidase (GOX; G2133, SIGMA).

For pyruvate sensing, the measurements were performed in PBS with 0.625unit/ml of pyruvate oxidase (PDX; P4105, SIGMA), 21.90 mM magnesiumchloride, 1.06 mM thiamine pyrophosphate, and 0.27 mM flavin adeninedinucleotide.

Sensing can be conducted at pH 7.0 in serum-added culture medium.

pH Sensing:

A conversion of the modified FET into a pH sensor was achieved by usinga reductant-added solution. After supplementing a culture medium with0.1% v/v DEHA to reduce the modified FET surface, surface proton densityvaried by protonation or by deprotonation dominantly changes themeasured current. Based on observations, adding 0.1% v/v DEHA to culturemedium did not cause a significant change in pH.

Statistical Analysis:

Data of sensing characteristics were in means±SD, as SD is regarded asan index of variability of the mean of studied nanowire devices.

Results:

Sensing by a 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified SiNW FET in response toH₂O₂ in serum-added medium are presented in FIGS. 3A-B.

FIG. 3A depicts the oxidation kinetics of the modified FET in differentconcentrations of H₂O₂, and the corresponding reduction kinetic uponflowing the reductant.

The obtained data show that serum-added medium without H₂O₂ additivesalso caused a detectable signal. Suggestively, the signal from aserum-added medium without H₂O₂ additives may be due to the complexityits contents. This signal was therefore considered as a backgroundsignal. Accordingly, acquired signals from samples were subtracted bythe background signal to obtain genuine signals from H₂O₂.

As shown in FIG. 3A, signals acquired from the9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified FET were concentration-dependent,whereas insignificant sensing response was found using anAPDMES-modified FET.

The obtained data further show that about 600 seconds after introducingH₂O₂ samples to the FET, the concentration dependency of acquiredsignals was significant, whereas insignificant sensing response wasfound using APDMES-modified FETs. These findings firstly affirm theH₂O₂-specific sensing capability of 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modifiedSiNW FET, and further suggest that H₂O₂ concentrations can bedistinguished within 10 minutes. These findings demonstrate thesuitability of this system for monitoring metabolic change lasting afew-hour-long time span.

The obtained data further show that by flowing a reductant such as 1%v/v DEHA, the signal of the reduced FET surface reached a base level inabout 300 seconds, and hence demonstrate that within this short period,the system is ready to be used for subsequent sensings, and that theredox-reactive FET biosensor possesses a good sensing reversibility. Itis noted that a solution switch to reductant caused a jump in theelectrical readout before reductant reaching the FET array.

FIG. 3A (insets) further presents comparisons of surface chemical bondpopulations for relevant functional groups to differentiate moleculardifferences of the modified monolayer at oxidation and reduction. Asshown therein, reduction of the surface decreased C═O bond population.See also FIG. 2.

Additionally, H₂O₂ sensing responses were measured as a function ofconcentration and pH, and the obtained data is shown in FIG. 3B. Theresults show that the sensing limit to H₂O₂ was 100 nM, and the sensingresponse covered physiological concentration ranges of H₂O₂. See, forexample, Lacy et al. Journal of Hypertension 1998, 16(3): 291-303.

Sensing of Small-Molecule Metabolites:

Sensing of small-molecule metabolites was assisted by oxidase enzymes'converting metabolites to H₂O₂.

FIG. 4A presents the concentration-dependent sensing characteristic oflactate in serum-containing medium. As shown therein, for a solutionwithout lactate, the signal of a LOX-added sample (the first red curvefrom the left) was higher than its LOX-free counterpart (the blackcurve). Again, the difference between the two signals may be due to thehigh complexity of the serum-added medium. Therefore, the differencebetween the two signals was defined as the background signal.

To obtain genuine signals from lactate, readings of LOX-added sampleswere subtracted by readings of LOX-free corresponding samples, namely,subtracted by the signal of LOX-free blank medium, since lactate samplewithout LOX does not cause any redox to alter measured currents. Thebackground signal was further subtracted from acquired lactate signals.A corresponding standard curve is presented in the inset of FIG. 4A.

The obtained data show that the sensing limit to lactate in serum-addedmedium was 1 μM, and the detection range covered the physiological rangeof lactate. See, for example, Wacharasint et al. Shock 2012, 38(1):4-10.

FIG. 4B presents the data obtained for glucose sensing responses in PBS.Similarly to lactate sensing, for acquiring signals from glucose,readings of GOX-added samples (the red curves) were subtracted by thereading of 10 mM glucose-containing GOX-free sample (the black curve),since glucose additives without the presence of GOX did not generateH₂O₂ to react with the redox-reactive FET sensor. The correspondingstandard curve is presented in the inset.

The obtained data show that the sensing limit to glucose in PBS was 10μM, and the detection range covered the physiological range of glucose.See, for example, Lu et al. (2009), supra.

FIG. 4C presents the pyruvate sensing responses in PBS. Readings ofPDX-added samples were in red, while a reading of a PDX-free sample wasin black. To obtain genuine signals from pyruvate, readings of PDX-addedsamples were firstly subtracted by readings of PDX-free correspondingsample, namely, subtracted by the signal of 10 mM Pyruvate-containingPDX-free sample since pyruvate samples without PDX does not cause anyredox to alter measured currents.

It is noted that no significant background signal was found in thepyruvate sensing in PBS, suggesting that the background sensing signalis dependent on the complexity of a sensing medium.

pH Sensing:

The modified FET described hereinabove was converted into a pH sensor asschematically illustrated in FIG. 5A, by simply adding a reductant.After supplementing a culture medium with DEHA to reduce the modifiedmonolayer to 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene and the H₂O₂ content, surfaceproton density varied by protonation or by deprotonation dominantlychanges the measured current.

For pH sensing, 0.1% v/v DEHA was supplemented in the sensing medium toreduce the 9,10-anthraquinone monolayer on the FET surface to obtain9,10-dihydroxyanthracene (see also FIG. 1d ) and H₂O₂ simultaneously.Therefore, no significant amount of H₂O₂ in a DEHA-supplemented mediumaltered a measured signal. As a result, surface proton density, variedby protonation or by deprotonation, dominantly changes an acquiredsignal.

Adding 0.1% v/v DEHA to culture medium did not cause a significantchange in pH based on our observations.

FIG. 5B presents the pH-dependent sensing response in reductant-addedmedium. As shown therein, the pH sensing sensitivity was 0.2 pH unit,and the detection capability covered physiological pH range.

FIG. 5C presents comparative sensing of H₂O₂ in reductant-free mediumand reductant-added medium. As shown therein, in reductant-added medium,H₂O₂ concentrations lower than 1 mM, which wholly cover normalphysiological levels of hydrogen peroxide in blood [Lacy et al. Journalof hypertension 1998, 16(3): 291-303; Valko et al. Int J Biochem Cell B2007, 39(1): 44-84], did not cause a significant signal comparing tosignals from reductant-free medium. In other words, the sensor in thereductant-added medium was insensitive to H₂O₂ in a normal physiologicalconcentration. Thereby, by using a reductant-supplemented solution, pHsensing specificity of the 9,10-dihydroxyanthracene-modified NW FET isenabled.

Example 3 Monitoring Metabolic Activity of Cells Experimental Methods:

Cell Culture, Drug Treatment and Viability Assessment:

Human T lymphocytes, Jurkat (TIB-152, ATCC), were cultured and incubatedat 37° C. under a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere. The culture medium usedwas RPMI 1640 medium (52400, GIBCO) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS;04-001-1A, Biological Industry) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin (15140,GIBCO).

During experiments, cells were re-suspended in phenol red-free medium(11835-063, GIBCO) in the presence or absence of a drug, eithermethotrexate hydrate (MTX; M8407, SIGMA) or 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG;D6134, SIGMA), at a density of 1×10⁶ cells/ml.

Cellular samples were dispensed into the wells of the sensing chip (seeFIGS. 1A and 1B) in an incubator.

Cell viability was estimated by using a hemocytometer to count trypanblue-stained cells.

Isolation of Primary Human B Cells:

Peripheral blood (PB) cells were obtained from healthy donors and frompatients with chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL).

To isolate low-density cells, PB cells were fractionated usingFicoll-Paque (GE Healthcare). Isolated cells were re-suspended in phenolred-free serum-added medium for sensing.

To isolate B-lymphocytes (CD19⁺), PB low-density cells from patientsamples or PB from healthy samples were fractionated using B-cellspurification kit micro-immunomagnetic beads (Miltenyi Biotec) followingthe manufacturer's instructions, and the fractionated B cells wereimmediately used for sensing.

Sensing was performed as described hereinabove.

Analytically, flow cytometry analysis confirmed that more than 93% ofthe normal or CLL fractionated cells were CD19⁺.

Extracellular ROS/Lactate Assay Using Dichlorodihydrofluorescein:

Control experiments, for comparing with nanowire sensing of cells, wereperformed by using dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH). In principle, DCFHis oxidized to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) by ROS.

DCFH was prepared as described in Cathcart et al. [Analyticalbiochemistry 1983, 134(1): 111-116].

Jurkat cells were cultured in phenol red-free RPMI 1640 medium, with 10%FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin, at a density of 1×10⁶ live cells/ml.

Before a measurement, cells were removed to obtain cell-free medium.Then, cell-free medium sample was added with DCFH and loaded into wellsof a 96-well black plate at 100 μl per well. The plate was preventedfrom light and incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes, and thenanalyzed using a plate reader (i-200, Tecan) to determine consequentemission intensities of fluorescent DCF at 525 nm.

Concentration of lactate metabolite was similarly estimated using DCFH.The main additional procedure was incubating cellular samples with 0.004unit/ml LOX at 37° C. for 5 minutes, then adding DCFH to the samples formeasurements. To obtain signals from lactate, readings of LOX-addedsamples were subtracted by readings of LOX-free counterparts.

Statistical Analysis:

Data regarding cellular metabolites are presented in means±standarderror of the mean (SEM) or standard deviations (SD). In addition,two-tailed, two-sample t-tests were performed to statistically analyzesignificances in data regarding cellular metabolites.

Results:

Sensing Using a T-Cell Line:

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) form as a natural byproduct of normalmetabolism of oxygen and have important roles as signaling molecules inthe regulation of a variety of biological processes. As a signalingmolecule, one important feature of ROS is its ability to move betweendifferent compartments, e.g. to cross cell membranes. Therefore,escalating intracellular ROS would diffuse through cell membranes toextracellular space as an indicator to display a metabolic activity.

24-hour monitoring of metabolic activity of drug-treated Jurkat cells bymeasuring extracellular ROS levels using the nanowire biosensor, wasperformed and the obtained data is presented in FIGS. 6A-G.

Data for Jurkat cells treated by MTX are presented in FIGS. 6A-6C andfor cells treated by 2DG are presented in FIG. 6D-6F.

Measured ROS levels were normalized by the number of live cells.

Relative cell count, presented in FIGS. 6B and 6E-6F, is a ratio of thecell count at t=24 hours to the initial cell count.

The results show that a noticeable decrease of ROS level of bothMTX-treated and 2DG-treated Jurkat cells was found at t=6 hours (see,FIGS. 6A and 6D). It can be explained by antioxidants' reacting to lowlevels of hydrogen peroxide [Valko et al. (2007) and Wacharasint et al.(2012) supra].

The results further show that after 24-hour treatment, ROS levels ofdrug-treated Jurkat cells were significantly accumulated (see, FIGS. 6Aand 6D), and cell proliferation rates have been reduced (see, FIGS. 6Band 6E).

The obtained data may be used to analyze the mechanism of action. It maysuggest that the expression of pro-oxidants may be stimulated afterattempts to reduce ROS level. As a result, pro-oxidants could induceoxidative stress, either by producing reactive oxygen species or byinhibiting antioxidants [Sablina et al. Nat Med 2005, 11(12): 1306-1313]to thereby inhibit cell proliferation [López-Lázaro M. Cancer letters2007, 252(1): 1-8]. It is to be noted that data from control experiments(shown in the insets of FIGS. 6A-F), obtained by using DCFH as describedhereinabove, in Fluorescence spectroscopy analyses, is in line with theobservations based on the NW biosensor detection.

Cancer cells produce energy by a high rate of glycolysis and secret morelactate comparing to normal tissue, in a phenomenon known as “theWarburg effect”. Therefore, extracellular lactate is therefore animportant indicator of cellular metabolic activities.

The correlation between extracellular lactate level of 2DG-treatedJurkat cells and a resultant cell proliferation rate after 24 hours wasinvestigated. The obtained data is presented in FIG. 6F and show thatcellular lactate secretion of 2DG-treated Jurkat cells was decreased,and the cells had a reduced proliferation rate. This is consistent witha previous study concluding that death receptor-induced apoptosis wasupregulated by using 2DG to inhibit glycolysis [radelli et al. Oncogene2010, 29(11): 1641-1652].

In addition, pH sensing of drug-treated Jurkat cells was performed, andobtained data is presented in FIGS. 6C and 6G As shown therein, pH ofall cultured cells turned to be more acidic with time, whereby pH of2DG-treated cells was more basic than the control (see, FIG. 6G),probably due to the reduced lactate secretion (as shown in FIG. 6F).Since lactic acid has a pK_(a) of 3.9, it is dissociated into a lactateanion and a proton at physiological pH. Consequently, the decreasedlactate secretion of 2DG-treated Jurkat cells has a less impact onextracellular acidification comparing to the control.

FIGS. 6H and 6I present the cell viability of MTX-treated samples and2GD-treated samples, respectively, confirming the anti-proliferativeactivity of the drugs.

Sensing Using Primary Human B Cells:

Metabolic levels of chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL) cells and normalB cells were monitored for 24 hours and metabolic significances weredetermined.

The measured metabolic levels of CLL cells were firstly normalized bythe number of live cells, then further normalized by the metaboliclevels of normal B cells. The obtained data are presented in FIG. 7A,and show that the ROS levels and lactate levels of CLL cells were higherthan those of normal B cells. These findings are in accordance withprevious studies showing that cancer cells produce higher levels of H₂O₂than normal cells [Szatrowski and Nathan C F. Cancer Res 1991, 51(3):794-798; Zieba et al. Respiratory medicine 2000, 94(8): 800-805].

The results also validate the hypothesis that cancer cells secret morelactate comparing to normal tissue.

The data further imply that the redox-reactive nanowire biosensor wouldestimate metabolic changes of cancer cells during a treatment to realizepersonalized medicine.

FIGS. 7A and 7B present pathological features of CLL cells (FIG. 7A) andcell viability (FIG. 7B) of the tested samples. Significantly, ROSlevels and lactate levels of CLL cells were higher than those of thenormal B cells.

Table 1 below presents biological parameters of the CLL cells.

TABLE 1 CLL pa- Age WBC Lymphocytes Hemoglobin Platelets Raiβ₂Microglobulin Previous tient No. Sex (Yr) (10⁹/L) (%) (g/dL) (10⁹/L)stage (mg/dL) Cytogenetics Treatment 1 M 78 18090 81 12.8 120000 I 2.3none 2 F 76 97000 93 13.2 171000 II normal leukeran

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated in their entirety by referenceinto the specification, to the same extent as if each individualpublication, patent or patent application was specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. Inaddition, citation or identification of any reference in thisapplication shall not be construed as an admission that such referenceis available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent thatsection headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarilylimiting.

1-44. (canceled)
 45. A method of determining a presence and/or amount ofa substance producing a redox reactive agent in at least one fluidsample, the method comprising introducing the at least one sample to asensing system comprising at least one chamber being in controllablefluid communication with a sensing compartment, said at least onechamber being configured to contain a fluid and said sensing compartmentcomprising a semiconductor nanostructure and a functional moietycovalently attached to said nanostructure, said functional moiety beinga redox reactive moiety and is such that upon contacting a redoxreactive agent, said nanostructure exhibits a detectable change in anelectrical property, wherein said detectable change in said electricalproperty is indicative of the presence and/or amount of the substance ineach of said at least one sample.
 46. The method of claim 45, furthercomprising subjecting at least one fluid sample to a reaction conditionunder which said substance produces said redox reactive agent.
 47. Themethod of claim 46, wherein said subjecting comprises fluidlycommunicating said chamber with a chamber which provides said condition.48. The method of claim 46, wherein said subjecting comprises fluidlycommunicating a chamber which provides said condition with said sensingcompartment.
 49. The method of claim 46, wherein said conditioncomprises an enzymatic reaction that catalyzes a production of saidredox reactive agent by said substance.
 50. The method of claim 45,wherein said fluid communication is effected by means of microchannels.51. The method of claim 45, wherein said semiconductor nanostructurecomprises silicon.
 52. The method of claim 45, wherein said functionalmoiety comprises at least one functional group capable of reversiblechange in an oxidation number of at least one of its atoms.
 53. Themethod of claim 45, wherein said redox reactive agent is an oxidizingagent.
 54. The method of claim 53, wherein said oxidizing agent is aperoxide.
 55. The method of claim 45, wherein at least one fluid samplecomprises a cell, the method being for determining a presence and/or anamount of said substance producing said redox reactive agent in saidcell.
 56. The method of claim 45, wherein said substance is ametabolite.
 57. The method of claim 55, wherein at least one fluidsample comprises a cell, the method being for determining or monitoringmetabolic activity of said cell.
 58. The method of claim 57, wherein atleast one fluid sample which comprises said cell further comprises atherapeutic agent, the method being for determining or monitoringactivity of said cell upon contacting said therapeutic agent.
 59. Themethod of claim 58, being for determining an efficacy of saidtherapeutic agent towards said cell.
 60. The method of claim 55, whereinsaid substance is a metabolite, the method being for identifying anagent capable of altering a metabolic activity of the cell.
 61. Themethod of claim 45, wherein said fluid sample is a biological sample ofa subject.
 62. The method of claim 61, being for diagnosing a diseaseassociated with a modified metabolic activity in said subject.
 63. Themethod of claim 61, being for monitoring a treatment of a diseaseassociated with a modified metabolic activity in said subject.
 64. Amethod of determining a presence and/or amount of a redox reactive agentin at least one fluid sample, the method comprising introducing the atleast one sample to a sensing system comprising at least one chamberbeing in controllable fluid communication with a sensing compartment,said at least one chamber being configured to contain a fluid and saidsensing compartment comprising a semiconductor nanostructure and afunctional moiety covalently attached to said nanostructure, saidfunctional moiety being a redox reactive moiety and is such that uponcontacting a redox reactive agent, said nanostructure exhibits adetectable change in an electrical property, wherein said detectablechange in said electrical property is indicative of the presence and/oramount of the redox reactive agent in each of said at least one sample.65. The method of claim 64, further comprising subjecting at least onefluid sample to a reaction condition under which said redox reactiveagent is generated or produced.
 66. The method of claim 65, wherein saidsubjecting comprises fluidly communicating said chamber with a chamberwhich provides said condition.
 67. The method of claim 65, wherein saidsubjecting comprises fluidly communicating a chamber which provides saidcondition with said sensing compartment.
 68. The method of claim 64,wherein said fluid communication is effected by means of microchannels.69. The method of claim 64, wherein said semiconductor nanostructurecomprises silicon.
 70. The method of claim 64, wherein said functionalmoiety comprises at least one functional group capable of reversiblechange in an oxidation number of at least one of its atoms.
 71. A systemcomprising at least one chamber being in controllable fluidcommunication with a sensing compartment, said at least one chamberbeing configured to contain a fluid and said sensing compartmentcomprising a semiconductor nanostructure and a functional moietycovalently attached to said nanostructure, said functional moiety beinga redox reactive moiety and is such that upon contacting a redoxreactive agent, said nanostructure exhibits a detectable change in anelectrical property.
 72. The system of claim 71, wherein said functionalmoiety comprises at least one functional group capable of reversiblechange in an oxidation number of at least one of its atoms.
 73. Thesystem of claim 71, wherein said semiconductor nanostructure comprisessilicon.
 74. The system of claim 71, comprising a plurality of saidnanostructures.
 75. The system of claim 71, comprising at least twochambers, each being configured to contain a fluid and being in fluidcommunication with said sensing compartment.
 76. The system of claim 75,wherein said at least two chambers are in fluid communicationtherebetween.
 77. The system of claim 75, wherein at least one of saidchambers is configured to hold a fluid sample to be analyzed and atleast one of said chambers is configured to hold a fluid selected toprovide a condition under which a redox reactive agent is generated. 78.The system of claim 71, wherein said fluid communication is effected bymeans of microchannels.
 79. The system of claim 71, further comprisingan additional sensing device.
 80. The system of claim 79, wherein saidadditional sensing device comprises an optical sensing device.
 81. Thesystem of claim 79, further comprising an additional chamber beingdevoid of said semiconductor nanostructure and also in fluidcommunication with said at least one chamber, wherein said additionalsensing device is configured to receive signals from said additionalchamber.
 82. A sensing system, comprising: a sensing compartmentconfigured for detecting a target molecule; a plurality of chambers,each being in controllable fluid communication with the same sensingcompartment via a respective microchannel and a respective valve mountedthereon; and a controller, for selectively operating each valve tocontrol flow of fluids from at least two of said chambers to saidsensing compartment.
 83. The sensing system of claim 82, wherein saidsensing compartment comprises a semiconductor nanostructure configuredsuch that upon contacting a target molecule, said nanostructure exhibitsa detectable change in an electrical property thereof.